Lilly - Christmas Spirit

White flakes tumble through the air outside, a dim orange cast across the room by a table lamp. A silence hangs over us while Lilly feels around the board, checking each piece with deliberation before finally making her decision and placing a number of lettered bricks into the game.

“Queueing.” She recites, a modest grin emerging on her features while both myself and Akira heave a groan of dismay. “That's eighteen, correct?”

Akira takes her time glancing between the rules on the board and the placement of her pieces, moving each of them out of the way to check for any extra details. “No, Lils. That was thirty-six. You got one of the double point squares.” She says, adding the value to our score sheet.

She takes a moment to straighten her tie – or rather, loosen it to the point where the top two buttons of her shirt have been undone. Lilly sits in stark contrast to Akira's style, wearing a beige ribbed sweater and a long, blue skirt. Hanako's winter wear is a bit more casual, her torso enclosed in a fuzzy dark blue jacket with thick grey snow pants, her tall boots lying at bedside on the ground.

Hanako also happens to be the next person in line, who, as with all of her other turns, takes at least five minutes making a decision and consulting a pocket dictionary. She rearranges the pieces on her stand multiple times before finally deciding on her move. “G-Game.”

“Seven.” Akira responds, penciling it down before tossing a bunch of her own pieces out in rapid succession. “Sta...roid? That's how you spell it, right?”

Hanako and I both shrug. Upon spelling it out for Lilly, she gives a calm “no, Akira, it's with an 'e', not an 'a'.”

Akira picks the pieces back up and gives a sour look to the board, as if it were its fault that she misspelled it. “That's not a word you have to use in the office over there. Give me a break.” She continues, for some reason feeling like she has to explain her mistake to us.

It's not enough that Lilly and Akira are the only ones here fluent in english words that are longer than four letters, Lilly has to be the one to always correct spelling and Akira has to be the one that tries to spell overly long words. The two of them together have already won the game, easily a hundred points ahead of both Hanako and I. On top of that; I'm in last place, trailing at least ten points behind Hanako's seventeen, Akira's fifty-one, and Lilly's... ninety-six.

It won't be long before the game is over. There's only room for one more word, and it's my turn. “Uhhhh...” I mutter, glancing over my pieces – A, A, R, Z, M, E, and L.

Lame? Maze? Considering my near-failing grade in english, I haven't been too confident in my syntax throughout the entire night, across any of the three rounds we've played. The only word I've managed to spell correctly in the current run is 'are,' and I doubt anything I could toss out would help me.

Akira shoots me an expectant glance and a shake of her head, as if trying to communicate the futility of even making a move. I decide to go through with it anyway, placing three pieces on the board and spelling out 'Maze' by using an 'e' of an existing word.

“Fifteen.” She calls out, not even bothering to scribble it down before declaring Lilly the winner. “That's four in a row, isn't it? Always takin' the fun out of stuff, sis.”

She takes the remark in stride, though. “I apologize, Akira, but I do not believe in handicapping myself.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Akira chuckles before standing up and stretching, already looking around for her coat. “Well, it's good to see you're all the same, at least. Everyone back home is just changing and changing.”

I help Hanako gather up the game pieces while Lilly folds the board. “How is it over there, anyway? You've avoided saying anything about it up until now.” I ask.

I receive a shrug for my efforts, with Akira shaking her head while she thinks it over. “It's... different. Not bad, but not good either, you know? The boyfriend and I have been having some problems getting along and the job's not getting any easier, but it's just a matter of hitting a good rhythm with it all.”

A look of worry flashes across Lilly's face. “I'm sorry I can't be there with you.”

“Oh, don't you worry your pretty little head about that.” She laughs, pushing away all of her troubles. “He just misses his old job. You don't have to be concerned with me, I can take care of myself.”

With that, Akira reaches over and pats Lilly's head, an act which sees a bit of cute frustration from the other party. “Besides, you got your own problems to be figuring out.” She adds, using her other hand to flick me on the forehead. “I better not hear about any problems that don't need to be problems, if you catch my drift.”

Hanako is just now putting on her coat and searching for her boots, her bag already packed for some other plans she had arranged. “Y-You can always come back here, if you w-want...”

“Like I need permission.” Akira says with an amused smile, already in the process of tying her shoes while she checks outside. “I'll be sure to visit every now and then, even if you don't want me to.”

 The four of us all share a small laugh, unsure of what to say in the silence that follows. The game is packed away and the room is reorganized, the bed on the opposite end of the nightstand already freed up for myself when she gets back.

“Are you sure you'll be alright?” Lilly asks, with Akira and Hanako both doing a double-take as they try to figure out who it was addressed to.

It takes a few moments for them to make up their minds, and eventually Hanako gives an answer. “W-We're only going to be g-gone for a week. It's j-just a small camp...”

“A small camp in France.” I remark, which causes the dark-haired girl to become more than flustered.

Alone with the newspaper club for an entire week, and in Europe no less. I have to say I envy Hanako a bit, getting to travel across the world like that, but then again...

“I should be asking you two the same thing.” Akira eyes both Lilly and myself, her playful gaze picking me apart before I even have a chance to incriminate myself. “The airport's only an hour's walk away and the lines are already going to be nightmarish since it's Christmas eve. I trust you won't go through all of my wine while I'm gone.”

Ah, yes. The wine.

The three bottles Akira had to cushion in her travel bag. The three bottles she had to pay a duty on for being 'too much.' The three bottles Lilly mentioned that she couldn't wait to try out.

That wine.

A mischievous smile slithers across Lilly's features, appearing and disappearing within the span of a second. “We won't touch it without your permission.”

“Probably.” I add, only for the blonde-headed girl beside me to cough in a nonchalant manner.

Akira pauses while putting on her suit coat, thinking over her words with care. “I don't care if you have a go at it, just don't go taking it all without me. I haven't even gotten to sample it yet.”

“We promise.” Lilly replies before I can even comment. “Are you already leaving?”

Hanako fidgets, letting her carry-on bag sway through the air while she thinks about her plans, as if she were already regretting the decision. “Y-Yeah. I wish I c-could stay a bit longer...”

“If we stay any longer the plane's gonna be long gone.” Akira remarks, glancing off to the side while the straightens her suit jacket. “It's not like you're going away forever. Just say your goodbyes and let's go.”

With that, hugs and promises to call are made while they begin the trek to the airport, with the older Satou sister toting Hanako's massive luggage bag. “You two behave yourselves now.” Akira winks, spending a rather long time looking me up and down, as if inspecting me for any 'impure' intentions.

“Goodbye, Hanako. I hope you enjoy your time in France. I hear it's a wonderful place.” The girl beside me says, a warm smile lighting up her expression.

Hanako makes sure her winter cap is snug before offering a feeble wave, letting the door shut with a light 'click' before the two of them make for the elevator.

Now that I think about it; it'll be a while before they come back, seeing as how she doesn't have a rental car or any means of getting back and forth aside from a taxi. It's also snowing, so...

“So, might I ask about that wine?” Lilly says without delay, her attention already focused on the coming night. “Just a little taste couldn't hurt, could it, Hisao?”

I'm already in the process of unwrapping the first bottle, its contents a deep amethyst with a label that reads nothing like any english I understand, save for a few numbers like the “. There are only two wine glasses in Akira's trunk, both encased in a special carrying case that would indicate that she fully intended to share with us.

Lilly scoots over to the end of the bed and sits with an expectant glint in her eye, clearly anticipating the first glass. It's such a far cry from what it was like back then; enjoying a single glass with a cautious approach. Sometimes I wonder if she's addicted to the stuff.

The cork pops off with no hassle thanks to a corkscrew and the first servings are poured, a light 'clink' ringing through the room in toast and accompanied only by the ambient hum of a heater. We both enjoy a small sip, a strangely buttery aftertaste lingering in my nose afterward.

“It's alright.” I remark, for a lack of anything more interesting to add. “I can see why Akira can't wait to try them out, at least; the label says it's from 1996.”

Lilly takes much longer taking hers in, tilting her head back and forth in curiosity while she contemplates every aspect. Either that or she's having trouble swallowing, seeing as how she doesn't seem too pleased with it. “It's rather... nice.”

I can't help but laugh. “That's all you can think to say?”

A low sigh rolls out from between her lips, her sapphire-blue eyes gleaming in the dim lamplight while she twists her glass around. “I'm not very good at this. Father knew all of the tricks to judging wine, but I'm afraid it's not something you find in blood.”

“Yeah, I'm not getting too much out of it either. It feels almost... breakfast-y.” I return, setting the glass on the dresser across the room before corking the bottle shut and searching for the next one in line. “I think this one is in spanish.”

“Let's try it out then.” She says, taking extra effort to consume the rest of her current glass in the process. A small bit splashes out and lands on her sweater, which doesn't seem to alarm her in the slightest. I'm left wondering if she even felt it.

I pour her another small portion, about a quarter of the way up the clear bulb and then take a seat on the bed across from her, setting the bottle down on the nightstand. While she's busy sampling the next spirit in line, I try and finish off what's left of my first serving, recoiling a bit as that buttery tinge is then overrun by what tastes like vinegar.

A smile creeps through Lilly's lips as she sets the glass aside, a giggle slipping out from her throat. “That one was wonderful. It was more comforting, in a way.”

“You think Akira got it just for that, or was she just shopping around for what looked good?” I chuckle, tempted to toss the rest of my glass into a potted plant nearby.


“Well, Akira has something of a taste for these things.” She replies, already reaching for her glass for another go. “It's very much a family tradition. Not just wine, but everything, really. My sister is very choosy about her liquor, moreso than any of my other relatives. I'm not too certain as to why she might be trying out different wines. It is a special occasion, however.”

She pauses to take another swig, although this time she seems to slip up and spill even more, a worried frown on her expression while she feels around the spot. “Oh no, this was my best sweater...”

“Here, let me have it. I'll go run it under the sink before the stain sets in.” I say, going over to help her out of the puffy garment.

It's only a moment before Lilly is on standby in nothing but her skirt and a white bra with green lace trim and a few red ribbons, sitting back without thinking anything of it. In fact, by the time I've let her sweater sit under some running water for a few moments, she's decided that she has no use for the skirt either, although the wine glass still seems to be an object of interest for her.

“Don't you think it's a little too cold to be walking around like that?” I say, unable to keep from grinning at the sight.

A small -hic- slips out from between her lips, which only causes a string of giggles to follow. “Of course not, Hisao. I shouldn't run the risk of sullying any more of my good clothes.”

As soon as I sit down beside her, I find one hand running up and down my back, her trimmed nails tantalizing to my skin even through the thick shirt. “I think that's enough for now. We should wait until Akira gets back to go any further.” I remark, already reaching for her wine glass.

I'm cut short by her hand wandering farther up, pulling me a little closer while she whispers in my ear. “But that's no fun. In fact, I think it would be fair if you joined me.”

The words ring thick through my ears, as though she were speaking to my brain itself. Only a moment goes by before my trance is broken by a slip of my hand, leaving a stream of purple droplets trickling down Lilly's chest and soaking into her bra.

“Please don't go making a mess.” Lilly continues, her lips trailing along my jawline before pulling me into a kiss, far less concerned with the now-empty glass than she should be. She leans into me with all of her weight, her fingers dancing along my skin while she begins to tug at the topmost button of my shirt.

I let myself get pulled into her rhythm, one hand creeping around her back and rubbing her bare side, my fingers sinking into the velvety smoothness of her skin. My lips settle into hers and push back against her, trying to stay sitting while she nudges me backward.

“You're in an awfully good mood all of a sudden.” I remark, pulling away to try and finish off my own glass of wine. I'm then compelled to pour her another portion while she picks up her goblet and pouts at its lack of volume, the light purple tinge of the current bottle already soaking into her once-white bra.

While she indulges in another swig, I take the opportunity to lean in and lick a small droplet of wine off of her chest, causing her to laugh mid-sip and spill even more.

“Mmm, am I? I would like to think that this is how I am all the time, Hisao.” Lilly says, doing nothing to object while I attempt to catch the stream of wine with my tongue. “In fact, I would say that it's you who is in a better mood than usual.”

I slide off of the bed and drop to my knees in front of her, letting the tip of my tongue glide along her silken flesh. “I think that's the alcohol doing some work for you.”

“I hope you aren't insinuating that I might be drunk.” She returns, her fingers running through my hair and pulling me closer at the same time, until my head is almost between her breasts. “I've only had two glasses. Surely I have a better tolerance than that?”

A light moan escapes her lips while I nestle my head in her bosom, tugging on her bra with my teeth while I reach around and begin to play with the clasps. “Sometimes you make me wonder.”

The taste of full grapes slips past my tongue while she deliberately pours a small dab of wine on my head, filling my nose with the smell of what seems to be oak. As soon as her bra slides down and is cast over my shoulder to some unknown part of the bedroom, I sample the taste of her entire torso – laying a trail of kisses along her collar, lapping up the small droplets of wine lingering on her skin, and taking my time teasing her bust.

“Ooooh~...” She sighs, her hand gripping my head more tightly while I kiss her nipple, giving her a gentle nip before pulling away, relishing the softness against my cheeks. I follow the trail of wine all the way down her body, feeling a smooth warmth in my hands while I grip her thighs for support.

My tongue encircles her navel and makes its way all around her smooth, flat belly, seeking out every last droplet and stopping to indulge in more each time her hand 'slips.' In moments I find myself nuzzling her pelvis, tugging at the tiny ribbon bow of her silken panties with teeth. She wiggles her hips against me, more than prepared for the next step.

It's been six months since we started dating, and I can't say these things are new to either of us. Something about it all feels casual now, as if any time Lilly and I can be found in the same room, we're probably in the midst of this. She definitely has a more candid approach to the act as well, thinking nothing of it when she goes to pour herself another glass of wine while my lips gloss over the most sensitive part of her body.

“Don't you think that's enough for now? Akira's gonna be upset if you don't leave her any.” I remark, my voice muffled while I kiss up and down her thighs, just barely able to pick up the traces of alcohol remaining on her soft skin.

She clenches her eyes shut in pleasure when I take the first step, teasing her with my tongue and savoring the tight warmth. “Mmm... maybe you're right.”

The half-full glass of wine is set aside and Lilly leans back a bit, one hand pulling me even closer while the other supports herself. Her legs open a bit wider as I slide in further and further, wiggling the tip of my tongue against all of her sensitive places.

“Nnh...” She moans out, her thighs snapping shut around my head by reflex as I lightly suck on the tip of her lips.

I try as hard as I can to hold my breath and keep going at the same time, slipping one hand up between her legs to try and pry her pillowy vice-grip open. “Hey, I'm still down here.”

“I'm... sorry...” Lilly trails off, now lying back on the bed and her hips lightly bucking against me, clearly enjoying the treatment. Another moan whirls through the air, any sense of restraint leaving her body while I continue to slide even deeper, doing as best I can to bring her even closer to the finish line.

It isn't long before she's tugging for more, though. After a few more moments of this, she sits up and begins to push against me, no doubt trying to get me onto the other bed. I oblige, natural flow landing me in a position where I'm on my back and almost without a shirt, the buttons being undone in a slow and yet frantic manner before moving all the way down to my belt.

My pants are removed and my boxers follow a few moments later, a tender hand mapping out the landmarks on my lower half before she joins me on the bed. She sits perpendicular to me and bends into such a position that there's no difficulty guiding myself into her.

Nothing more is spoken when I plunge inside, unable to get proper leverage while my legs hang off of the bed. I'm welcomed to the enticing sight of the textured ceiling as my head tilts back in pleasure, letting myself become lost in Lilly's motions while the soft flesh of her hips fills my hands.

The adjacent hotel rooms don't seem to bothered by the noise, as even through the bedsprings creaking and Lilly's moaning, no one has thought to file a complaint; either by knocking on the door or banging on the wall. I can't help but think that everything has fallen into place a little too easily, a thought that remains hard to hold on to while the woman on top of me fills all of my s-

“Aren't we missing something?” I remark, sitting up and wrapping my arms around her for support, the dire consequences of both trying to pull away and staying in this position quickly ramming into my mind.

She slows down for a moment, sliding alllll the way down before grinding herself against me, swiveling her hips in slight but forceful motions. “Of course n-nnnh~, not, Hisao. We should be... mmm... alright...”

I try even harder to get into a better position, growing a little frustrated as I try to scoot back only to teeter in a precarious spot. At this point Lilly has pulled my head into her collar, her nails dragging along my back while she undulates her hips against mine, taking me as deeply as I can go.

Akira's advice rings through my head while I venture even further and further toward the point of no return, a light pressure building in my lower half while tension fills my entire body. My chest pulses with a faint intensity, having long since learned to stay calm in these situations.

“Lilly, I'm...” I moan into her chest, the only answer I receive being an even louder, less coherent cry. We continue in our current position, the speed and force of our motions intensifying every moment.

It would seem that she still retains some of her sense, however, pulling away at the last moment and freezing up in climax, gripping so tightly that her nails dig into my shoulders and leave faint scratches. From there, she pulls me into another kiss so filled with vigor that our foreheads clack together. I'm given no time to lament, however, as her free hand continues to play with me, her soft grip bringing me across the finish line in minutes.

My entire body tenses up and I break away from Lilly to take one more breath, clenching my teeth in pure euphoria as I meet sweet release.

Lilly tries her hardest to remain upright, gripping my stomach with both arms while I flop back, chest heaving in exhaustion while my heart throbs with more fervor than before. Her hair lies disheveled and her clothes have been lost in every which way, with her bare form resting on top of me and masked only by the strings of sticky white fluid clinging to her supple belly.

“I guess that was some good wine, huh?” I sigh in airy breaths, feeling winded from simply talking. Somewhere along the line the alcohol finally sunk its grip into my mind, now leaving me in a dazed state where I can barely see straight.

She rests for a bit longer before trying to stand up on her own, having to grip the beg as her legs shake and threaten to buckle from beneath her. “Yes, Hisao. It was wonderful.” With that, she sits down on her own bed and begins to feel around the nightstand for her forgotten goblet. “You don't think it would hurt to have a bit more, do you?”