by Lila Mina
Yuki’s smile broadened, and her sincere warmth caught Lana by surprise. “Oh, don’t be so hard on yourself! But thankfully, dogi aren’t flattering. Otherwise, practice would become a real challenge, no?” Her mischief was plain to see, but before Lana could come up with a witty reply, Yuki continued. “Have you come alone tonight?”
Lana did a double take. Is she trying to figure me out? Is she flirting with me? And why am I fine with that? “No, I am with a colleague of mine, Frank. He is already inside.” She felt compelled to add, “It is our first date.”
Yuki raised an eyebrow and gave her another strange smile. “Oh, how sweet! Hopefully a good omen.”
Lana couldn’t help a half chuckle, half snort. She avoided glancing at Honda but increasing levels of tension and annoyance poured from him. Yuki also seemed happy to ignore her husband.
“Ah yeah, I mean, yes, tha… that’s right… but I am n-not so sure about it…” She was supposed to try harder. Not be so transparent about her lack of real interest in her date. But she couldn’t help it. “It’s early to say, as we don’t know each other well.” And given how I am reacting to your husband, and now also to you, it looks like it won’t go anywhere.
“Hm…” Yuki tilted her head. “Well, please drop by our table later on. I don’t have many opportunities to speak with women from foreign countries, and I would love to hear about your life in Japan.”
To any neutral third party listening on, all of this was reasonable and normal, but to Lana, it sounded more like an excuse. Honda seemed to be of the same opinion, given the black look he threw at his wife and his increasing broody mood. Lana’s respect for her grew with each passing second. Alluring wife: 1, kinky husband: 0.
Lana played along; she had something to settle with him for turning her sex drive upside down. “Oh, with pleasure. I would love to know where this wonderful irotomesode comes from…” Painfully vapid but her short-circuited brain had failed to come up with anything else.
“I will tell you all about it,” Yuki replied with a husky voice and then reached out to squeeze her hand so briefly that nobody else noticed it. A bubble burst inside Lana.
She was saved by attendants pressing everyone still standing in the hall to go inside. Their surreal conversation stopped, and she fell in line with the large group of guests going in. As she passed the doors, pressed and surrounded by dozens of people, a warm and large hand landed on the small of her back.
“I would suggest that you stop your little game with my wife. If you could not handle me and my demands, you will find it hard to manage her… and even less, the two of us together,” Honda whispered in her ear.
Lana strained to make out his words. She shivered and straightened up, her familiar annoyance with his know-it-all behavior rising. Not glancing back, she pushed aside the powerful desire his words rouse inside her. “I don’t know what you are talking about, Sensei. I am pleased to get to know her… given she knows much more about me than I would have ever imagined.”
His hand turned into a grip on her hip. “She knows enough but not everything,” he retorted.
“Well, I’ll make a quick social call later out of politeness. You don’t have to fear anything else from me.”
Honda chuckled. “You do not understand. You are the one who should be careful. She is a force to be reckoned with and will not be denied if you open that door. You should be ready to battle and might not like the outcome. But I would enjoy having you in my bed again.”
Before Lana could reply, he was out of the crowd, and strolling to his table.
Her nerves tingled, along with other places inside her. Breathing deeply, she walked back to her table and dropped on the seat next to Frank. It was crystal clear she stood at a crossroad. For the sake of her conscience, she had to give her date a chance. She had to try a normal, sane, healthy relationship, as acceptable as it would get according to social standards. Even if her body screamed another story.
“Ah, you’re back!” Frank told her with a big smile in their native French. “What took you so long?”
“Endless lines in the restroom and in the hall. A real traffic jam. I also ran into other friends. Everything going well here?” she asked in English to include the other couple and derail the conversation.
“Perfectly well! Tim and Yurika were telling me about their trip to Guam last month. Ever been there?”
Dinner started while Tim and Yurika graced them with pictures, videos and funny stories about their scuba diving trip. Formal speeches honored the bride and groom and their families. Friends and colleagues of the couple raised toasts, but Lana kept a strict control on her alcohol intake and limited herself to two glasses of wine. To her chagrin, Frank didn’t have the same discipline.
“Frank, why don't you have a glass of water or oolong tea?” Lana tried to be as courteous as possible, but it was hard not to be harsh. He was her guest, so she was responsible for his behavior in the eyes of everyone around them.
“What? Oh no, I'm fine, don't worry. I'm just getting started. I’m Belgian—I can handle my beer!” he replied with a raucous laugh.
But as time went by, Frank neither slowed his pace, nor handled his liquor well. Frustrated with a behavior more fitting for a frat house party than a wedding, she turned her back to him. Her gaze wandered around the room and found the table where Yuki and Honda sat. To her surprise, Yuki was staring at her with another enigmatic smile that reminded Lana of the Mona Lisa. She discreetly raised her glass next. Lana’s cheeks turned red, but she returned the gesture without looking like a fool.
“What a hot chick,” Frank mumbled on her left.
Bewildered, not sure she had heard correctly, Lana twisted on her chair to see at whom Frank gawked. Honda’s table. “Excuse me?”
“That woman, the one who just raised her glass,” Frank continued, oblivious to her shock. He was speaking in French so didn’t bother whispering. “Kinda old, but still hot. Look at her face and figure! Who is she?”
Come again? What kind of guy felt fine to talk with his date about another woman–or like this in any circumstance? “She is my aikido instructor’s wife, he’s sitting on her left, and I would advise being more respectful. You wouldn’t like what he’d do to you if he knew how you described her,” she snapped.
Frank snorted. “She’s married to that guy? Wow, talk about an age gap. Does he ever smile? He must be filthy rich to have landed a girl like her or seriously good in bed. But he should keep her on a tight leash. With the smoldering looks she’s throwing around, she looks like she’s open for some action.” His fingers mimicked penetration in an awful and lewd gesture.
His vulgarity left her speechless, but her shock turned quickly into red-hot anger. It was not only about the identity of whom he bashed and disrespected. The abysmal lack of manners and respect shamelessly veiled by the language barrier, fueled her aggravation.
“Will you stop?” she hissed, trying to keep a blank face so that no-one would catch that something was wrong. “This is my sensei you are talking about, and I happen to respect him a lot. I don’t know much about his wife, but you’re acting like a child!”
Frank snorted in his glass and put his arm around her shoulder. “Oh, come on! Don’t be a killjoy. Why are you overreacting?” he whispered in her ear. “It’s fun to make fun of your boss or teacher.” He inhaled deeply and caressed her neck. “Hm, I love your perfume. I can’t wait to show you the room I booked…”
Lana gritted her teeth and clenched her fists against the urge to punch him. Frank’s heavy breath reeking of alcohol made her queasy. “You... booked a room for us?” she said and withdrew from his clumsy embrace. This was getting old fast.
“Of course! I’ve got so many plans for the after-party…” he slurred in her ear, giving her goosebumps, but not of the good kind. “Tell me, what are you wearing under this? I hope you also prepared a nice surprise for me...”
Lana closed her eyes and counted until ten. “Okay, I think you and I ne
ed to talk, Frank. Do you mind coming with me outside?"
Frank was so drunk that he didn’t catch the warning tone in her voice. “Sure!”
Grabbing his hand, she jumped on her feet to lead him out of the room. He interpreted it the wrong way and made a hopeful face to their fellow table companions. Two men snickered; she saw red. She stared ahead, not even daring to look at the table where Honda and Yuki sat. Thankfully, people had started moving from one table to another, so they didn’t stand out.
Outside the ballroom, she brought Frank to one side of the empty hall. “You should leave now.”
“What are you talking about?” Frank exclaimed, going from smiling like an idiot to angry shock.
“You heard me. You’re making a fool of yourself, and me, in front of everyone. On top of that, you’re being rude. I’d be shocked even if I didn’t know those people, but I do, and I can’t believe what you’re saying. Also, it’s our first date! You can’t expect me to follow you to a hotel room like that.” I’m the queen of double standards, all right, but no way I’m ending up in a bedroom with this ball of slime.
“You must be kidding! Where do you live, the 18th century? That room costs a fortune! If you didn’t mean to spend the night with me, why the hell did you dress up like that? Fuck that shit!” Frank snarled. “I should have known you’d do this to me, what with your reputation and all. Jonas warned me.”
She stepped toward him. “What? What are you talking about? Jonas, from the marketing department?”
“Yeah, he called you the frigid queen, you know?” Cheerful, Frank seemed delighted to throw an insult at her face and oblivious to her rising anger. “You’re always so bossy and snobbish at work! I know you ditched him even though he treated you like a queen. I thought it was because he was a sore loser, but you’re just an attention whore!”
Lana had to call on her self-control and aikido principles to refrain from jamming him against the wall. “I don't give a shit what Jonas called me.” Her calm voice made him flinch, and he gulped down hard. “Now, you little prick, let me be crystal clear here.”
With one more step, she invaded his comfort zone and stared him down. “Let me tell you something. If you, Jonas or anyone else bashes me online or at the office, I’ll make your life so miserable, you’ll wish you’d stayed back home and never left your mom's basement. Don't think for one second you can harm me just because you can't handle your frustration and you let your dick do all the talking. Do you understand?”
“You bitch, you’re crazy…” he muttered, voice trembling a little. “You couldn’t do all that.”
“Oh, trust me, that wasn’t a threat it was a promise,” she replied with a dangerous smile.
He stepped aside, brushed his hair, turned on his heels and was out of the hall in a few seconds. Lana pinched the top of her nose. Come Monday, she would have to make sure that the little shit kept his word. What a douche! Thank heavens I could see that awful part of him so soon! Let it be my last and formal warning to stop going out with co-workers.
“Well, that sounded like an unpleasant conversation.”
Yuki’s voice came from behind her, and Lana rolled her eyes. When it rains…
Turning around, she gave the newcomer a smile cooler than she deserved, since she was still attempting to reign in her flaring temper. “Yes, highly unpleasant. It’s no big loss though.” Lana shrugged.
“I will not pry, don’t worry.” Yuki gave her the same indecipherable smile as before. “I guess now is not a good time, but I was hoping that we could have a little... chat, you and I?” Her hands were open as a kind of invitation or peace offering. Given their circumstances, perhaps both.
Lana nodded. Flirting or not, they had a man-shaped elephant in the room to address. “Certainly. In one of those rooms over there?”
7
A New Player in the Game
Yuki led the way, opening the doors of a small and windowless meeting room with a couple of sofas around a low table. Both took a seat. It reminded Lana of the start of a business negotiation. Yuki being older and holding the higher moral ground, Lana remained silent and let her do her scrutinizing.
She used this chance to better observe her counterpart. Yuki was beautiful, but more than her looks, it was the strength, intensity, and sensuality pouring from her that made Lana fidgety, and not just with nerves.
“First, may I call you Lana?” Yuki began.
“Of course,” Lana replied smoothly. That was direct, and so atypical for a Japanese woman, especially of Yuki’s station.
“Thank you; please call me Yuki.” Again, silence filled the room for a few heartbeats as the two women appraised each other.
Lana’s mind raced in all directions, trying to anticipate where they were heading. He said I should be ready to battle… Are we two lionesses fighting over the same turf? Ha! Who am I kidding? I’m a rabbit she’s about to gulp down. I have zero sway here! I can only pray she won’t make me walk the road of shame in public.
“Lana san, please excuse my rude behavior, but we have little time, so I will be blunt.”
Lana took a deep breath. Here we go… If only she could stop smiling like this! Is this a disarming technique or what?
“A few months ago, I noticed changes in goshujin sama’s mood. He was even more short-tempered than usual. It lasted for a while. Then one night, he told me he had obtained the willing submission of one of his most promising and strongest students, in the most delightful way. His mood improved dramatically, to my sincere pleasure. It’s my wish and duty to meet all his desires and needs.”
Lana fought hard to keep a smooth face. She knew Honda had spilled the beans. Still, to have this brought into the open, with no anger or accusation, was a shock. On top of it, Yuki was using 'goshujin sama' to talk about Honda. Of course, in her mouth, it meant ‘my honored husband’, but still it hit too close for comfort.
“And then, two weeks later, he came home frustrated. He said you requested to be freed from any prior agreements.” Yuki sighed and shook her head. “Since then, he’s again often lost in thought and quick to lose his temper.”
Yuki fell silent for a few seconds, and then a full smile bloomed on her lips. “Until now, I thought it would only take time and more dedication. But tonight, fearless, you walked up to us and confronted me in a respectful, yet powerful way. You’re indeed strong on top of being a delightful beauty, so I’m not surprised you’re still in his mind. And I’ll confess that since we talked, I’ve been wondering about the taste of your lips.”
Taken aback, Lana blushed crimson, and her breath hitched. Yuki’s smile broadened, and she played her advantage. “Goshujin sama ordered me to stay away from you. He fears I’ll make you flee rather than bring you back. I disagree because I sense you’re receptive to me. I’m willing to risk his wrath by doing this… although punishment will be harsh.”
That perspective didn’t seem to trouble her. Either Yuki was so dedicated to her husband’s well-being that self-sacrifice was nothing, or she enjoyed punishment at his hand. Or both. Lana swallowed her moan at the flash of racy images her mind conjured. Words kept failing her. All right, all right, I like this a bit too much, oh boy...
“It’s clear to me you still desire him, but given the kind of steel you’re made of… I’d like to enjoy what is so special about you that makes him lose his focus.”
This time Lana had to close her eyes and bite her lip. Yuki had gone for the kill. Perspiration trickled down her neck. The small room grew increasingly warmer.
“Yuki san…” Lana whispered, eyes still shut to grasp her last threads of control. “Are you sure… Do you really think it’s a good idea? I mean, you are beautiful, my head is spinning in all directions right now, but what about-?”
“Yes, all of us can get what we desire if you’re willing to give it another try.” Yuki’s voice had turned into a husky whisper, full of red hot promises. “If you do, goshujin sama will be of course your master, like he is mine, but
I’ll ask that you heed to my desires and needs, and I’ll take care of yours in return. In short, you would call me oku sama in an intimate setting. What do you say?”
Oku sama? Well, she’s his wife after all. Lana opened her eyes, caught by surprise again. The other woman had silently moved to her side. Her warm and soft hand rested now on Lana’s neck, and her breath caressed her face.
Lana was pretty sure that Yuki could see her rapid heartbeat pulsing in her neck and was aware of her panting. A rabbit. A helpless rabbit offering her throat, that’s what I am. But it’s not the kind of slaughter I expected.
“I say… well… I say you are full of surprises, although your husband did warn me that you are persuasive.” Lana cleared her throat. “Sensei told me our relationship would be a sort of intimate training, with no room for more personal emotions. I was fine with this, because… he tends to infuriate me. Outside aikido practice, I am either turned on, or mad at him… or both.”
Yuki chuckled, and Lana fidgeted in her seat. “I don’t know if I can offer him what he wants from me or accept what he gives me. At some point, he managed to get in touch with some deep-level feelings, and I... well... you could say I panicked, which is embarrassing, to say the least. Instead of facing it, I fled and decided we were done. Ah. Obviously, I am not."
Lana stared at her folded hands on her lap. And now I look weak–and I just confessed it to someone who wants a piece of the action under her own conditions. That’s not how you keep the upper hand, girl, but how the heck should I do it?
“Yuki san, what you are proposing is tempting, but I am afraid. Of liking it too much. Of… of losing myself somewhere down the road.” Lana fell silent. The language barrier had never seemed so high. Her thoughts kept derailing with Yuki’s agile fingers stroking her forearm.
“At the same time,” Yuki said softly, “if the three of us are satisfied, if everyone communicates their expectations and needs, why can’t this work?” Her smile became less carefree, and something serious sparkled in her eyes. “Accepting him as your master to your physical needs doesn't mean giving up your free will. Don’t forget this kind of relationship requires much more trust and mutual respect than what normal relations have at the beginning.”
