Warning: This chapter contains sex, crude language etc.

DISCLAIMER: Ranma and co. don’t belong to me, but to Rumiko Takahashi.

Chapter 8: Midnight Massage

The Plan…

Infiltrate.

Seduce.

Deceive.

Above all, keep your primary objective in mind.

All this ran through my head as I stared down at Akane as we stood on the waterfront. None of it showed on my face.

"So...you don't think Ranko going into the Gilded Lily about...oh, 30 minutes after we did would look suspicious?" I wanted to know.

"Um..." Akane pinkened. "When you put it that way..."

I smirked. I loved getting one over my ex-fiancee, especially when it got her all flustered like that. She was so sickeningly self-righteous, so convinced she knew what was right that she just charged ahead in her bull-headed fashion, without stopping to ask if I had a thought or two on current events.

All right, I told myself. Time to play hardball.

We postphoned our information gathering until the next day. It had started raining too, so we took a cab back to our hotel for the night.

The cab streaked through the wet streets of Tokyo, and I stared out my window at the high-rise buildings and glittering city lights we passed. Akane sat close to the other window, her attention turned to the passing view as well. Once again I mulled over my certainty that she was going to try and get rid of me. Not now, but sometime soon. I could see it in her eyes sometimes, when she looked at me. She thought of me as part of the problem, I’d realized, not as part of the solution.

And that angered me. It made me feel like I didn’t quite measure up to her standards of ‘knight in shining armour’. Me, Ranma Saotome, savior of defenseless young women and slayer of demi-gods. The idea made me feel peculiarly restless.

Deep in thought, I shifted in my seat, and Akane looked at me, but I’d already averted my eyes. Damned if she’d catch me looking at her!

Follow the plan, I told myself.

The night clerk, a young woman with short hair and clear brown eyes, looked up as we entered the hotel lobby. “Mr. Saotome?” she beckoned to me.

“Yes?” I left Akane and approached the reception desk.

“There are two messages for you,” she said, handing me a folded piece of paper.

“Thanks.” I took it from her and scanned the note briefly. Hmm. Walking back to Akane, I surreptitiously pulled out a tiny bottle and sprayed the note, rendering the wording illegible. Needless to say, the bottle did not contain aftershave.

Akane looked curious about the note, but I didn’t offer to enlighten her.

“Shall we go up?” I extended an arm politely in the direction of the elevators.

“People know you’re here?” Akane questioned as we walked.

I debated how much to tell her. She’d clam up if I gave her no info whatsoever. “A friend of mine is looking for info about Dr. Tofu. No luck yet.”

“You have someone else looking for Dr. Tofu?” Akane stopped and stared wide-eyed at me.

I hoped she wasn’t going to throw a fit.“Yeah, thought it’d be good to try something different, you know?” I shrugged.

Akane grabbed my arm. “Ranma, that’s a great idea! I hope your friend finds something.”

I was surprised. I didn’t think Akane would be very open to getting help, but she seemed almost relieved. It occurred to me that this quest for Dr. Tofu wasn’t something that someone had assigned her. Her subconscious had come up with it all by itself.

“We should plan what to do next,” I stated calmly. “Do you want to come up to my room?”

Akane stared at me suspiciously, and took the bait. “No, let’s go to my room.”

I suppressed a smile and took her arm. Oh, so easy.

As we walked to the elevator, I pressed a spot beside her tricep gently, a pressure point that would trigger in about forty-five minutes.

In the meantime, I considered the messages I had received as the elevator climbed the floors, pondering my reply.

Forty-three minutes. The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open to Akane’s floor. Her room was exactly like mine. A suitcase stood in the corner, and her indoor slippers were laid out neatly next to the entrance. A sofa sat close to the entrance in the designated living area, with a coffee table and matching table lamps. The room had the requisite 32 inch black TV set, and assorted dressers, but what dominated the room was the queensize bed beyond the living area. A door led off to the bathroom, and a set of closet doors were visible as well.

I decided to forestall our planning for a bit.

Forty minutes. "It's supper time," I announced with glee and let myself fall backward onto the soft quilted covers of the white double bed. "Let's get room service! I'm starving."

Akane laughed. "You sound like a little kid, Ranma!"

"Hey, play nice," I admonished, and reached out and chucked her under the chin. She blushed but I pretended not to notice. Did I mention I love seeing her flustered? "No matter how many hotels or dives I stay at, I love room service." I sat up, and let concern show on my face. "But, this is your room. I don't want to charge it to your account. I'll just go down to my room, really it's fine. We can meet up later."

"Nonono," Akane hastened to reassure me. "Please, it's on me. C'mon, it's on my company expense anyway. What would you like to eat?" She reached over to pick up the room menu.

I squashed a dirty retort to that and watched as she sat down next to me and began mulling over the choices. I peered over her shoulder, letting my shoulder brush against her back, as I read the interesting ones out loud. "Shrimp yakisoba, curry rice, yumm...red bean paste buns, I'm definitely getting those."

Thirty-five minutes. Abruptly, I moved away, letting Akane feel the loss of my warmth. I stood and moved to the sofa, where I switched on the TV.

"Mm, I'll get the pork-flavoured ramen, a plate of the buns, and some sake. I haven’t had that since I left Japan." I turned my head and gave Akane my best blue-eyed look. "Please."

Thirty minutes. She swallowed. "Uh, sure. " She turned away and began to dial, and I smiled to myself as I switched to a channel showing a dubbed version of Teen Wolf.

Twenty-five minutes. As Akane talked to the kitchen, I pulled out my Blackberry and began to browse the web.

“What are you doing?” Akane asked after she hung up. I didn’t reply, and she came over to join me on the sofa.

“I’m checking to see what trade routes go out from Tokyo Harbour.”

“Trade routes,” Akane questioned. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Nothing, just a feeling I have,” I replied, still intent on the screen. “I just think it’s too much of a coincidence how close to the harbour the Gilded Lily is.”

“You…think someone took Dr. Tofu aboard a ship?” Akane looked shocked. “Where would they take him?”

I shrugged. “Like I said, it’s just a possibility. Until I talk to Madama Segawa’s girls, we’re not gonna know much more.”

Twenty minutes. There was a discreet knock at the door. Akane rose and checked the eyehole, then opened the door to admit a maid carting in a table with a steaming tray on it. Abruptly, my stomach rumbled.

The maid laid out the various dishes, bowed and left us to eat.

“Looks good,” Akane thanked her on her way out. She returned to the sofa just as I poured out two shots of sake.

“No, not for me,” she refused.

“You’ll sleep better,” I argued. “But I guess you haven’t had it for a long time either, It’s quite potent if you’re not used to it…”

“Hey, I’m Japanese, too, remember,” she huffed, and snatched the drink out of my hand to toss it back. Her eyes flared at the taste, and she coughed, but on the whole, she took it like a trooper. Dear, gullible Akane.

We stayed on the sofa, watching Teen Wolf, eating ramen and polishing off a bottle of sake between us. It reminded me of evenings in front of the TV at the Tendo house, watching movies with Akane and Nabiki, while Dad and Mr. Tendo played shogi nearby.

“That moron!” Akane fumed when Michael J. Fox mooned over the gorgeous but opportunistic cheerleader instead of noticing his cute girl buddy. “Well, at least she gets him in the end.”

“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” I warned.

“I’d never,” she exclaimed indignantly. I grinned at her. The sake was definitely taking effect.

Zero and counting…

“Ow!” Akane sat up, rubbing her shoulder.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, faking concern. I already knew exactly what was wrong.

“My shoulder hurts,” Akane murmured, rubbing at the painful area. “It feels like I pulled something.”

“Let me see,” I scooted closer. “Do you need ice for it?”

Akane shook her head. “It doesn’t … feel like that sort of pain. It just feels really, really tense.”

I placed a hand on her shoulder, on exactly the right spot, and began to rub the bundle of nerves that were causing the pain. Akane’s eyes closed from sheer relief and she let out a moan of bliss.

“Yes, there!” She urged.

The position was awkward, but I stayed that way, careful of crossing boundaries, until Akane inched closer to me to get more comfortable.

“There, how’s that?” I asked, and stopped, letting the warmth of my fingers seep through. Akane seemed to be in no hurry to dislodge my hand from her shoulder.

Akane turned her head sideways. “Oh, much better, but…oh, it’s back.”

I continued the massage, gently but firmly circling my thumb over her muscles. “It feels as though you might have crossed a nerve or something,” I lied through my teeth. The spot I’d ‘activated’ for lack of a better word, would continue to send out waves of pain through Akane’s back. I could massage it all night and she would love it, but if I stopped without applying the correct pressure, the pain would resume.

Akane mumbled in reply, her head hanging forward. I eased her forward onto the arm of the sofa, letting her face rest against the cushioned back. I supported her body with my other arm and stroked her shoulder slowly, working the tendons to release the pressure.

As the tension seeped from her body, I allowed her torso to curve against the cushions, and used my other arm to stroke up and down her back as well, until she was nearly asleep.

But there’s all kinds of massage. I let her consciousness dance on the edge of sleep, and then, slowly, so slowly, I began to use my fingers to stimulate her body. My hand on her shoulder began to curve down toward her armpit, and I splayed my fingers over the wing of her shoulders. The other hand began to draw feather-soft patterns on her back. I dew ever widening circles that looped in and around themselves, and trailed rivers of shivers across her ribs.

Akane began to awaken slowly, her body recognizing the signals long before her mind did. I curved into the space between her body and the sofa cushions, so that we touched from chest to knees. Her body arched against mine, and a low murmur came from her throat. Softly, I began to lay kisses on the bare skin of her shoulders. She shivered again, and turned into my arms for warmth. I smiled against her hair, and turned her face slightly so I could kiss her. Her eyes were closed, but she turned her lips up ever so slightly, and I took advantage of the unspoken invitation. I kissed her as I’d wanted to, all these days. Her lips tasted even better than I remembered, and I sank into their sweet depths almost wantonly. Not quite, though. I couldn’t afford to lose myself. I had to keep her on the razor edge of desire, her mind too fogged to remember why she shouldn’t be doing this, her body thrilling to my touch.

I threaded my hand through her silky, black hair, and cradled her head to kiss her and kiss her until our lips turned numb. My other hand slipped beneath her blouse to caress her breasts. My massage had brought our bodies to about the same temperature, so my fingers were warm on her skin. Despite my determination to stay focused and alert, my body was responding as well. Blood was pounding through my body, warming me rapidly. I languidly ran my hand down Akane’s body, as though I had all the time in the world, but within me was a heat that was growing to fever intensity. My body clamored for me to take her right there and then.

You’ve got better control than this, Ranma Saotome! I growled to myself. I forced myself breathe slower, and eventually my body returned to a semblance of calm.

Akane half-opened her eyes and stared up at me. “Ranma?” she asked soflty.

“Sshh,” I soothed, drawing her into my arms again. I kissed her again until she was squirming in my embrace, wrapping one leg around mine. She slid her arms around me, and I used the invitation to slide a finger under her panties, into her wet warmth. She gasped, and nearly rose off the sofa. I kissed her into acquiescence, and softly began to stroke her. Damn, it felt good. She made soft little choking sounds against my mouth. Then her warm hand slipped inside my pants, found me, and wrapped itself around me. I nearly groaned. Self control was one thing, but Akane was like fuel for my lust. The more I got of her, the more I wanted. Swiftly, I undid my buttons, and then poised over her.

“Akane?” I asked.

She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around me again. I could have taken that as a yes, but I wanted no misunderstandings later.

“Do you want this?” I whispered harshly.

“Yes!” she cried, her eyes shut.

Anger raged through the desire. I captured her face with my fingers, and her eyes flew open. “Ranma!”

I grinned mockingly. “Now that you know who’s fucking you…”

Answering anger sparked in her eyes. “I’ve always known,” she retorted.

And there was no going back. I slammed into her. She was everything I remembered. Once I was in, I forced the anger back, and slowed. I drew out, slid in, and moved into her, and she cried out, her fingers grasping my upper arms. I stopped for a second, wondering guiltily if she was in pain, but she grabbed my hips and forced me even deeper. I nipped her neck, and continued. Our breaths sounded harshly in the silence, until Akane gasped and clutched my shoulders hard as she came. The force of it brought me with her, and we collapsed after a long, endless moment of raw pleasure.

Exhaustion claimed us, and we slept.

In the middle of the night, I woke to Akane nipping at my neck with her small teeth. She was running her hands down my ribs, and all in all doing her very best to wake me up.

“Hey,” My voice sounded sleep roughened.

“Hey, yourself,” she said, trailing kisses along my chest. She bit my nipple lightly.

“Ow!” I gasped. “Violent chick.”

“Oh, yeah? You haven’t seen anything yet.” Akane wrapped her fingers around my shaft again, and squeezed.

“It doesn’t hurt,” I pointed out.

She grabbed my balls, a feral look in her eyes. “Now?” she asked.

With no warning, I flipped her. She landed on the sofa on her stomach, the breath knocked out of her.

“What…?”

I pulled her hips up and before she realized what was happening, I’d impaled her. In this position, she was pretty much pinned. She gasped, feeling me even more deeply this way. I pulled out slowly, and slammed back in. She lowered her head and moaned, arching her back. “You wouldn’t,” she snarled.

For answer, I kissed her shoulder, and reaching around her, began to play with her breasts, stroking them, feeling their curve. Akane’s head fell back against my chest, and her hands covered mine, our fingers interlacing on her breasts. We moved in tandem. I began to rub her gently, rocking into her at the same time, and the double sensation proved to be too much for her. She straightened and screamed, then fell back onto the sofa. I joined her there, spent myself.

She curled up against me wordlessly, and went back to sleep.

At some point during the night, I carried her to the bed, and curled up there with her. Recriminations would come soon enough, but for now, I’d enjoy holding her.

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“Damn you!” was the first thing I heard, and only my martial reflexes helped me move out of the way of a right-handed punch coming my way.

I blinked in the morning light, and caught Akane’s wrist, raising sleepy eyes to look up at her furious face.

“What’s wrong?” I asked in a deceptively calm voice.

“What’s wrong? Why…you…seduced me! You jerk!” Akane fumed. She was so furious she hadn’t bothered to dress, and instead had the quilt wrapped protectively around her ribs.

I closed my eyes and lay back, feigning boredom. “C’mon, if you don’t want to take responsibility for your actions…”

Akane would have jumped out of bed if I hadn’t had a firm hold of her wrist. “Excuse me?” she screeched.

“I offered to do this in my room, but you refused. I offered to have dinner alone and see you afterwards, but you refused. And wasn’t I doing you a favour, by the way? YOU were the one with the blinding pain.”

Akane opened her mouth, then closed it. “I strongly feel you had something to do with this, Ranma!” she managed finally.

“If you mean, your waking up naked in your hotel room, then yeah, I did,” I drawled. “I did quite a lot, if I recall correctly.”

Akane blushed furiously and leapt out of bed, dragging the quilt with her. Her eyes turned to me and she turned bright red. “Put some clothes on, for goodness’ sake!” She hastily averted her eyes, but not before she’d taken a very long look. I grinned to myself and got out of bed, pulling my trousers on.

Akane disappeared into the bathroom and slammed the door. I heard the lock click. Guess there’d be no long showers today.

It didn’t take long to take the elevator back to my room, shave and shower, and order breakfast. I only stopped to make a quick wax copy of Akane’s key, lying on the hotel table. I’d get it made later at a locksmith, just in case.

I was halfway through a croissant when there was an impatient rap at my door.

“It’s open,” I called.

The door opened to reveal Akane, dressed in linen culottes and a black t-shirt. She looked irritated. And tired. And her skin glowed. I kept my smirk to myself.

“Have a croissant,” I waved her to a seat. “I got used to this in the United States. I like it with margarine, but I’ve got jam if you’d like some instead.”

“You,” Akane hissed. “If I didn’t need you to go undercover today and find out what happened to Dr. Tofu, I’d…I’d…”

I raised my hands. “Hey,” I said more seriously. “You want me to apologise that a midnight massage session turned into something a little more…scratch that, a LOT more fun? It’s not like we haven’t had sex before, various times…in different places, in another city…”

“Okay, stop!” Akane sat down, her face burning. “I refuse to discuss this any longer. Just when are we going to the Gilded Lily?”

“We?” I leaned back. “Oh, no. Dear Akane, you’re not going near that place again. I’ll get there and call you on my cell phone when I’ve discovered something.”

“What am I supposed to do? Sit around and wait for you?” she inquired. “That could take days, Ranma. I should find a spot close to the brothel, just in case you need help.”

“Why don’t you visit your family instead?” I asked. She cringed.

“Okay, enough,” I snapped. “What is with you and your family? When I left, you were all lovey-dovey with each other. Now, it’s different. How long since you’ve been back in Tokyo?”

Akane counted in her head. “Um, almost three years.”

“Three years?” I eyed her skeptically. “What’s wrong with this picture?”

She bit into a croissant and shrugged, her mouth full.

“Awesome avoidance tactic.” Sarcasm dripped from my words.

She swallowed and grimaced. “You’re giving me a headache, Ranma. Stop with the questions. Just let’s get this over with. The sooner we’re done with the brothel, the better.” I heartily agreed on that one, so we left the hotel.

We split up, and soon enough I found myself back at the Gilded Lily, staring up at the sign. The same women from the day before were staring at me, but I looked very different this time. I was a girl, red-haired, blue-eyed and buxom. I wore a kimono, and demurely kept my head down when I asked to see the Madame.

She floated in as brassily as she had yesterday, looked me up and down, and smiled.

“My goodness,” she said, sizing me up. “And what can I do for you, dearie?”

“I…My name is Ranko Hino, madame,” I whispered. “My father lost his job last month, and I have three younger sisters. I have decided to make my own way in the world, madame. I was told you could help me.”

“Who told you?” she asked sharply.

“Mr. Lee,” I provided a common name. “The tall one. I don’t know his last name.” There weren’t bound to be too many tall Lees around, and if Madame Segawa knew such a guy, her mind would immediately jump to him.

“Oh, him!” Madame Segawa’s face cleared. “That’s all right then. He’s a fairly regular customer. Come my dear, are you sure this s what you want?”

“Yes. I have few other skills.”

“Well you do have an amazing body, I’ll admit that…”

“Thank you,” I replied tersely.

She rose. “Come this way. Aya will show you to your room. It’s almost time for lunch. You can eat with the girls, and then we can discuss any…experience you might have.”

I nodded, and thanked her. Aya, dressed in another loose kimono, appeared and led me up two flights of stairs. The second floor held the rooms the women met clients in, and the floor above that was the sleeping quarters. I began to feel claustrophobic, and reminded myself that I could bust out of this place any time I really wanted to. Finally, I calmed down, and began to concentrate on my mission. I had to find out why Dr. Tofu had come here. And what had happened to him after that. The trail couldn’t end here.

Tbc…

Okay, please review, so when I wake up in the morning, I get happy, and start planning chapter 9. :) Comments on the sofa scenes are especially appreciated. I've been working on writing better lime scenes, and c&c reallyhelps with that. Cheers!