Paired With Neutrality

Paired With Neutrality

By: Angelwarrior1

Chapter 4: Getting Closer

The romance novelist and his other worldly companion had begun to grow closer as the weeks went on. They had become very comfortable with each others presence and Shuichi could now touch Eiri freely without seeing him tense like some caged creature about to lash out at its captor.

Eiri had grown to welcome Shuichi's touch and actually seemed to crave it now more than his cigarettes. While the two may be extremely relaxed in each others presence, there was nothing other than good friendship between them.

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"Shuichi"

"Yes Eiri?" Shuichi looked away from the television set upon hearing her name.

Eiri walked out of his office where he spent much of his time typing his novels. Shuichi knew not to disturb Eiri when his office door was closed. He became even more cranky than usual when interrupted.

"I have a book signing to attend in a couple of days. Would you like to come? It'll be a chance to get out of the apartment for a while." Eiri sat down next to Shuichi and placed his arm up on the couch behind Shuichi's head.

"Oh really?! I will get to see everyone who reads your books there?"

"Yeah some of my fans will be there. Unfortunately." Eiri muttered.

He hated most of his fans. They were like ravenous packs of wild animals just waiting to strike and kidnap him at the first chance.

"You do not sound very enthusiastic Eiri. Do you not like your fans?" Shuichi turned into Eiri, her knee touching Eiri's thigh just above his knee.

"Some of them are okay. Most are...too over enthused about meeting me. They can get out of control quickly."

"Oh, I see. I am still very excited to see you interacting with people who enjoy your writings." Shuichi smiled at Eiri, who couldn't help smiling back.

"I hope it'll be as exciting for you as you make it out to be for me." Eiri raised the hand that was behind Shuichi's head and softly combed his fingers through Shuichi's hair.

Shuichi's eyes closed at the tender caress. It felt so nice to have Eiri's fingers gently rubbing her scalp. She was brought back to herself when his hand left her hair.

"I'd better get back to work." Eiri rose from the couch and started back to his office.

"Okay..." Shuichi said quietly as she watched him go.

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Eiri was typing at his laptop. He was immersed in his own little world at the moment. When the shrill scream came he jumped and ran out of the room as fast as he could.

"Shuichi! Are you-" Eiri ran into the living room, expecting to find Shuichi hurt.

Instead he found Shuichi standing in front of his stereo system staring in awe at the contraption that was playing music.

"Eiri! What is that?" Shuichi ran over to him and hugged his left arm.

The spooked author breathed a sigh of relief and launched into an explanation about the stereo and the concept of music. Soon Shuichi knew how to work the stereo system and after promising Eiri that she'd keep the noise level down, the author returned to his work.

Eiri went back into his state of intense concentration over his work and hours flew by. When he finally stopped for the day six hours had passed. He decided it was time he checked on Shuichi.

What he found when he entered the living room was even more shocking than before.
Shuichi was singing along with the radio. And she sounded really good. She was singing To Love Somebody by Janis Joplin.

He leaned against the doorframe and watched as Shuichi not only sang but swayed and rocked with the song's sultry beat. He found his eyes following the gentle and steady sway of her hips and shoulders as she sang in tune with the words.

He could watch her dance and sing all day. Sadly, luck was not with him. Shuichi turned in her dancing and opened her eyes. And promptly squealed in surprise at having an audience. An audience that was giving her a really weird look.

Why was he looking at her like that? Was she doing it wrong? She didn't know how the people of this planet expressed themselves through body movement, but in her culture things were definitely free and sensual.

It was all about expressing everything that you felt. There was even a pre-mating ritual based on dancing. A huge festival would gather in the couple's honor and everyone would just spend the evening dancing to their heart's content.

Maybe the resident's of Earth didn't dance that way.

"Am I not doing it right?" Shuichi walked up to him nervously.

"What?" Eiri snapped out of the lustful haze he was in and focused on what Shuichi was saying.

"Am I not expressing myself through the movement of my body correctly?" She looked at him with worried eyes.

'No, you're expressing yourself just fine through the movement of your body.' Eiri thought, though obviously didn't say.

"No you dancing's fine. In fact it looks just like the kind of dancing many people on this planet do. Though there are many styles of dancing here and that's just one kind."

"Really what other kinds are there?" Shuichi's face got that curious, yet studious look she always adopted when learning something new.

He found it cute.

"Oh, there are many kinds one can do on their own, but there are also many kinds two people can do together."

"Like what?"

"Well, there are more practiced ones that you have to learn steps and moves for. The tango for instance, or the fox trot. Those are two examples of dances you have to learn before you can do. Slow dancing is something any couple can do. It's easy to learn."

"Oh! Can you show me?! Please!" Shuichi bounced a bit and gave Eiri a pleading look.

"Ok ok, calm down." Eiri went to the stereo and searched for an appropriate song.
He stopped on a song that sounded good enough.

"Come here." He instructed.
Shuichi rushed to him and waited for the next instruction.

"Now put you right hand here on my shoulder and give me your left. Now just move your feet like mine, following the beat. Don't look down now, look up at me. There you go..." Eiri trailed off when her eyes met his.

Shuichi's eyes always had such a heavy effect on him. They were the most beautiful eyes he'd ever seen. He couldn't get enough of seeing them.

Slowly the two drew closer together as the song progressed. Soon Shuichi's arms were wound around his neck and his arms were wrapped around her waist. Their noses were almost touching-

The song ended and a loud and fast paced song came on in the previous ones place. The two jumped and unwound themselves from each other.

"Well, um, thank you for that. For teaching me how to dance like that. It was nice."

"No problem." Eiri cleared his throat and swallowed, his throat was suddenly dry.
He went into the kitchen and got a drink, then promptly went back into his office. He locked the door.

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Shuichi was worried. What was she doing? She was supposed to be searching for her intended mate, not spending all of her free time with the nice Earthling male who was helping her. He was so nice to her though and he took care of her. And he taught her things and treated her well.

She was feeling things for him. Now she felt like she was cheating on the intended mate she didn't even know yet.

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Eiri was worried. What was he doing? He was supposed to be helping Shuichi search for whatever it was she was searching for. Shuichi hadn't exactly clarified on that part yet. Instead what was he doing? Spending all of his damn time with her, that's what. She was so sweet though.

Shuichi was so beautiful and genuine. She had innocence and grace and this calming aura that just put him at such ease. He could go on listing the things he liked about her. It wasn't right though! He shouldn't be getting so attached to her already! They hardly even knew each other!

For him to be feeling these things- and he didn't know how long she'd be staying either. He could wake up one morning to find her gone. Forever. He had to know exactly what she was looking for.

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Eiri exited his office and went to find Shuichi. He found the door to her room closed, so he knocked on the door. Shuichi opened it and looked up expectantly at him.

"I need to talk to you about something. If we could go into the living room?"

"Of course Eiri." Shuichi followed Eiri and sat down next to him on the couch.

They found themselves in the same position that was quickly becoming tradition for them. Eiri's arm was lain across the back of the couch behind Shuichi's head and Shuichi was turned into Eiri with her knee touching his lower thigh.

"What would you like to talk about Eiri?" Shuichi turned wondering eyes towards his.

"I want to know what you're searching for exactly. You haven't said and if I'm going to help you then I need to know."

"Oh that. I guess you have earned the right to know. As you know our people have mates. You either find yours or you don't. All Zilaens must search for their mate when they come of age. Not all Zilaen's mate reside on Zila though. Some intended mates live on other planets. Planets that have residents that are compatible enough for our people to mate successfully with in order to create offspring."

"And Earth is obviously one of them."

"Yes. In fact Earth's inhabitants are some of the most compatible by far. I am an oddity on my planet. None of my people expect me to be one who has an intended mate. Only my mother believes I have one and it is because of her that I am here now. No one else encouraged me to go on the search for my intended."

"Not even you father?" Eiri was surprised to hear what Shuichi's people thought of her.

How could they look down on someone as wonderful as Shuichi? As far as he was concerned Shuichi was the best the planet Zila had to offer. Her and her mother. Her mother obviously loved Shuichi greatly to encourage her to search so far from home.

"So how are you supposed to find your intended mate?"

"I'm afraid I can not tell you. My people's mating rituals are sacred. I will know. There will be signs. Once I know for certain who my intended is, I must tell them so they can decide what they want to do. If they accept then we will proceed from there with more of the ritual."

"And if they don't?" Eiri asked softly, dreading the answer.

"Then I will return home. Alive physically, dead spiritually. A Zila loses all of their gifts if they do not find their mate. They will be as an Earthling basically, except they will feel the emptiness inside of them. Many times weaker Zilaens who couldn't find their mate commit suicide. It is a very big deal not to find one's mate."

"Yeah, that sounds like a terrible way to live." Eiri had more questions, but he didn't have the heart to ask.

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Shuichi bounced in her chair as she watched Eiri sign his books for the numerous fans that surrounded him. She couldn't believe how many Earthling females were here! And many of these females were very shapely. Some had huge boobs, but others had a huge rear end too! It made Shuichi start to feel plain and unattractive. And like a stick with limbs.

While Shuichi watched the proceedings occur another set of dark eyes was watching Shuichi.

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She was so small and dainty. Beautiful magenta colored hair that looked so soft. He bet it was like touching silk or satin. Nice slender legs, tiny feet and hands. He couldn't see her eyes, but he knew they were just as gorgeous as the rest of her. In short she was perfect.

He wanted her.

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So now our couple is getting closer, but who is this mystery person watching our Shuichi? Review to find out.

Today's recommended song is also the song Shuichi and Eiri danced to. It's called Prototype by Andre 3000.