Is this destiny?

Oni wanted to pull her hand out of Michael's hold and run away, but she told herself that if she wants to be treated like a grownup, she needs to act like one. And grownups don't run away from problems. They stick around and talk about it until they find a solution… even if they don't like it.

"Is she wrong?", Oni asked stiffly.

Michael was not sure what is Oni talking about, but Oni's tone told him that it's something unpleasant. He asked reluctantly: "About?"

"About you doing this out of pity."

Michael was shocked. What pity? He stood in front of Oni and held onto her shoulders while observing her expression. "What exactly did she tell you?"

Oni felt her eyes burning, so she lowered her head. Her tears are swelling, ready to fall at any moment and she does not want Michael to see her all weak and weepy. She looked at Michael's feet and started talking with difficulty: "She said that you feel sorry for me, like a big brother would. That you are giving me a special treatment only because I pushed you away and that as soon as you win me over I will not be interesting…" Oni's voice drifted away, and her shoulders shook.

Oni was angry at herself. Why is she crying?

Michael took a step forward and cradled Oni in his arms, pressing her against his chest. He lowered his head and rested his lips on top of her head.

Sniffling, Oni lifted her right arm and placed her palm on Michael's chest, feeling the strong beat of his heart.

Michael is holding her, but what made her heart flutter is the sensation of his breath sinking through her hair, down her scalp. It felt so… intimate. 

She cried in his arms silently, not holding him, but not pushing him away either.

Oni was not sure how long she cried, but she knew that Michael waited for her to finish and to let it all out, because as soon as she released a shaky sigh and tried inching away, he held her tighter.

"As I said, don't listen to her.", Michael murmured into Oni's hair and she could feel his lips moving against the top of her head. "Marija has no idea what she is talking about... She is angry and wants to hurt you so that she feels better…"

"If she is wrong… what is the truth?", Oni asked in a shaky voice.

Michael took Oni's right hand into his and pressed her palm against his chest, on the exact spot where it was while she was crying.

"When you are near me, my heart is beating again. I can't find the words to explain how my body charges with energy when I think about you. You fill my black soul with light, and I desire your company beyond all others."

"How is that different from what my big brother would feel for me?"

Michael let out a deep sigh. "I can assure you that these are not the feelings a brother should have toward his sister."

Oni took half a step back and looked up at him. "Like what?"

Michael observed her face for few seconds before asking: "Do you really want to know?"

Oni blinked twice and responded: "Yes."

"Once you find out, there is no going back.", he warned her.

Oni firmed her resolve and looked straight into his eyes. "I can take it."

Of course, she wants to know. All her insecurities and misunderstandings and everything bad is happening because she does not know what he thinks about her and what his feelings are and…

Oni's thoughts stopped when Michael's lips landed on hers. 

His lips are soft and full and warm, yet capable of sending electric sparks through her body which caused her brain to short-circuit. She was aware that his hands wrapped around her back, holding her in place while his presence engulfed her… his firm chest is pressing against her, threatening to crush her in a gentle kind of way.

Michael's lips glided against hers, conveying her messages she was unable to decipher, but she had a feeling that her heart understood them because it stopped aching, and it was beating strongly, faster than ever before and at some point her lips moved as well, following the rhythm he set and nothing else mattered other than this exact moment in time. 

He leaned his forehead against hers and asked: "Is this how a brother should treat his sister?"

Michael's question plunged Oni into reality, and she opened her eyes with difficulty. 

Oni wondered, when did she close her eyes? She is not sure. And why is she leaning backward onto his arms? If he pulls them away suddenly, she will fall on her back… her body is unable to support itself, because her legs are made out of jelly. But the strangest thing is that her whole body feels like it's floating. It's a good thing that Michael is still holding her firmly, and Oni hoped that he will not let go any time soon.

Oni was shocked by the realization: she is trembling. Why? It was just a kiss… a soft one on the lips. 

Oh, God! Her first kiss! With Michael! And it was amazing!

She swallowed with difficulty and looked into Michael's eyes which were darker than usually, and his breathing was slightly unsteady, and his smile was almost predatory, definitely seductive. Eve-lens told her that his heart rate is elevated and how there is a high probability that he is aroused.

Part of her was shocked, scared maybe, and part of her was glad that he is in such a state.

"No… this is not how a brother should treat his sister.", Oni responded softly.

Michael's smile widened and he pulled her closer again, holding her against his chest while resting his lips on her head.

Oni felt that butterflies in her stomach are going crazy, why are they not calming down? The kiss is over. Oh, God! Michael is holding her in his embrace, and he kissed her! On the lips! Should she hug him back? Oni was not sure about this.

But there is one thing that is bugging her… "Marija knew that you call me 'little girl'."

"Hmm...", he hummed in acknowledgement. "Everyone knows that I call you like that, because I talk about you."

Oni was not sure how to respond. He talks about her? That should be a good thing, right?

"Michael?", Oni called after some time.

"Hmm?"

"You smell like smoke."

Michael remembered the bonfire and how the wind made smoke and embers fly toward him. It's not only the smokey smell, but there is a chance that embers made few holes in his silk shirt as well. "I will go and change."

Oni felt his arms loosening up at her back, and she realized that he is about to release her from this incredibly comfortable cocoon called a hug, and her whole body screamed against it because she is not ready to part from him. Not yet.

"No.", Oni said, and her arms slowly circled around his torso. "This is fine."

Michael smiled. Oni's head resting against his chest and her arms around him… it is more than he hoped to get. She is hugging him back! 

He knows that there is still a lot that he needs to make up and prove to Oni, but this is an amazing progress. Her hug is telling him that she is not pushing him away, and that is beyond amazing. 

Michael reminded himself that he should thank Ron and Haru for the advices to stop treating Oni like a girl who needs to grow up. She is a young lady, and even though he has every intention to cherish her and take it slow, that does not mean that he should refrain himself from every intimacy. Hugging is fine. And an occasional kiss as well.

They stood like that on the dock, while the noise from the party drifted their way... and not only the noise, the music reached them as well.

Oni felt that Michael's body started swaying, and because he is holding her, her body swayed as well.

She looked up at him. "What are you doing?" 

"I told you that I want to dance with you.", he responded with a smile.

She glanced down at the dock. "Here?"

"Why not?" 

Michael took her right hand in his left one, and made Oni twirl before pulling her toward him.

They moved with the beat of the music with smiles on their faces, like all the worries in the world disappeared. 

Michael held Oni close, at the point of their bodies being only two inches apart. He leaned and murmured near her ear: "I waited too long to dance with you, so I need at least three dances."

"OK.", Oni agreed immediately. 

He inhaled sharply, in an exaggerated surprise. "Oh, you accepted it easily. If I knew I would ask for at least five!"

Oni laughed. "You can have all my dances. They are yours."

"Mmm…", he hummed happily and added: "I will take them all."

And then he made her twirl again.

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