Greetings!

Between my current four-part project and juggling real life and a new 
website, I got this little diddy completed.  It's more BoF old school 
goodness (which will probably be that way until I get a hold of a PS2 and 
Dragon Quarter).  Enjoy, and lemme know what you think. ^^

- Kenji M. (nexuspost@hotmail.com)

Kenji's Nexus:
http://www.geocities.com/nexuslink

Random Plug:
http://www.sgvy.com/

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-- Attached file included as plaintext by Ecartis --
-- File: codbeta.txt

The peninsula was a quiet affair.  It was a peculiar state of being,
since it was usually an active event, with the grass being tickled by
the wind, and the energetic sea playfully batting away the cliff's
advances.

Yet, none of these activities were occurring.  Perhaps the cliff had
crossed some line in his eternal courting.  The wind was a flighty
lass, and likely had her attention elsewhere.  The Highlands westward
were a believable culprit.

Even worse, that elemental menace, Saint Evans, could have placed
them all in the corner and bade them be silent.  It was a disciplinary
option not quite beneath his morals.

Whatever the motive, it made the fish sullen and inactive, and that
meant a sullen and inactive Ryu Bateson.

And it was a state he desired the least.  He and his non-nature
companions were in something of a limbo, not knowing where they could
venture next.  This, in turn, lead to a spirited bickering on where they
should next travel.  However, each participant was proved spirited
as their opponents, and no consensus was reached.  Ryu, not feeling
as energetic as his comrades, decided to attempt a less-volatile means
of contemplation until he reached a possibility much more kinetic than
that of the others.

It was an easy means of reaching the only other unenergetic member and
convincing her that a lift to the craggy bluff merely a short flight
away from their home would be prudent for all parties involved.

Only, there he sat, back at square one because nature was on a timeout.
Nothing better to do, he cast his fishing line back into the sea.
Perhaps the fish wouldn't need the water's coercing to dance to his
hook's rhythms?  Maybe he could get his line to mamba -- that was always
a popular dance.


*******************


Everyone had their off days.

Nina was watching Ryu have his, not that he knew she was there.  And
the black winged girl was fine with that stalking realization.  It made
her feel slightly better to watch over him, as he often did for her in
times of trouble.

Of course she'd much rather comfort him in his face than not-really
support him from the seclusion of a tree branch.

It was a perplexing chain of thought, but not by a great deal.  That he
stalked out after a heated debate on destination was no surprise; the
dragonboy had been under increased stress from the infiltration and
evacuation of Evrai.  His father, blind, weak, and resting, being
discovered had further agitated his mood.

So while the others were busy deliberating, she'd caught him sneaking
out, hitching a ride on her sister, Mina, the Great Bird, heading due
southeast.  The debate disbanded, everyone went their own ways,
sulking, which left Nina to trail after her sibling and Ryu.

But now that she was here, she found herself a bit confused and
frustrated.  The purpose of tailing the dragonboy was to see if he
needed a hand or an ear, so why was she hiding in a tree, content to
only look at him?

Ryu being easy on the eyes aside, Nina could not comprehend her
perching anxiety.  If she did not think he could use friendly company,
she would not have come.  Everyone needed an ear, supposedly when
unthinkable things occurred.  She had made a judgment call to be that
ear since he seemed in a sour, unstable mood.

After all, she could not recall Ryu ever imitating the rhythm of the
Cha Cha while in a chipper disposition.

So what was the procrastination for?  Had she not talked with him
before in days past?  Certainly this time was no different--unless his
father suddenly sprouted feathers and grew to twice the size of a
house.

Where was her bold and mighty courage when she needed it?

So lost in thought was Nina that she did not notice the blouse of her
dress being tugged at.


*******************


Ryu grumbled in annoyance.  The fish all appeared to be wallflowers.
They didn't even go for the Lambada!

Well, perhaps the fish further out to sea knew a Jitterbug step or two.

Course mapped, he snapped his line out of the water and further behind
him, ready to perform his fly-fishing fling.  The young dragon clansman
hurled the line forward--

And caught something.

Ryu smiled, and then realized that his line was not in the water, so
it had to have been caught in the background flora and fauna.

Well, it wasn't much of a problem.  The new rod and line were
tested, and strong enough to pull boulders.  Why, a few jiggles and
one good flick, and the line would be free, likely taking whatever it
ensnared.  He did just that--

And his jaw met the ground as a squawking, seventy-eight pound, black
winged birdgirl came hurtling past him a hyperbolic arc, heading into
the sea.

The girl's, Nina's, screams echoed well until the ocean decided she,
too, should have a timeout with the rest of nature.

Ryu thought for a moment, then decided it would indeed be prudent to
make sure that Nina recover.


*******************

Catch of the Day

A Breath of Fire 2 lemon

By Kenji Murasaki

Breath of Fire characters are property of Capcom, and are not intended
to be used in this story for profit.  Unless fun is actually measured in
some unit of legal tender.  Either way, don't sue me, I'm broke.

This story contains material that is not suitable for those of illegal
age (18/eighteen/whatever it may be in your area).  Discretion is
advised.

*******************


It was an effort.  Apparently, the sea was not as quiet as Ryu guessed,
nor was she content with rebuking just the cliff face.  He was thankful
he did not have to prove himself as sturdy.

Away from the shoreline and whimsical water, Ryu set down a coughing
Windian and collapsed into the sand.

"Sorry about that," he stammered.  "I didn't think I'd actually snag a
person."

Nina looked at the soggy dragonboy, and shook her head.  "Don't worry
about it much.  I'm just surprised my dress held instead of ripping."

Ryu smiled lightly, wringing out his ponytail.  "Must've been a really
good tailor."

The birdgirl nodded, then frowned in disgust, plucking strands of seaweed
from her hair.  "I wonder if I could have convinced her to make the darn
thing waterproof?"

"Can't win 'em all, I s'pose."  Ryu's face grew pensive.  "Mina could
put us back at Township to dry out and freshen up."

The look didn't pass beneath Nina's notice.  "No, we don't have to do
that, not yet.  It would spoil your reasons for being out here, wouldn't
it?"

"Not really, I guess.  I mean, all I was doing was fishin'."  The
cloudiness continued to orbit Ryu's face, but there was a sudden
awareness with it.  "How about you, Nina?  Nobody sent you t'find me,
did they?"

Nina could have answered in many ways, most of which would have had
unfavorable results.  Instead, she swallowed her bothersome pride.
"I'll tell you if you help me make a campfire, okay?"

Still straightening himself, Ryu looked at the birdgirl in confusion.
"How come?"

"Well, I'm not ready to go back, and you have your reasons to be out
here, too."  She stood shakily on her feet.  "It takes care of all
priorities at once.  Unless you'd rather return, that is."

"No, no, that's fine with me.  Campfire it is."  The smile, earlier
vanished, eased its way back on Ryu's face.

"Okay, then let's get to collecting wood."


*******************


Setting the fire wasn't laborious.  They'd chosen a spot where the amorous
cliff whittled away the already quiet affairs of the wind, and there were
a surprising number of branches to be had.  One small spell from Nina,
and fire took up the dance where the fish failed.

Oddly convenient, Ryu thought as he used several log sticks and his
fishing line to dummy a makeshift hangline.

"Something the matter?" Nina asked, looking up from the fire ring, and
noting the consternation on Ryu's face.

"Nothin' serious, I just think it's weird how easy it was to find wood
this tall."  He pointed to the staves, easily over him by a head.

Kneeling by the glowing warmth, the birdgirl regarded his words.  "Well,
maybe a lot of travelers come through this region.  I think Mr. Azusa
could vouch."

"I guess.  I do remember he had stories about treasure hunters after
relics left here during the time of the Eight Heroes campaign."  Ryu
stopped his work and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.  "Something about
an Emperor's relic and a buried castle."

"Well," Nina offered a smile while she stood.  "We could always hunt
for clues that anyone left behind."

"Maybe. When we have time, anyway."  The Ranger went back to tying
the staves.  Another couple of knots, and he picked up the two newly-
made supports.

"Let me give you a hand with those."  The Windian quickly came to Ryu's
side and grabbed one of the bundled supports.

"Thanks."  They brought the supports closer to the fire ring.  They were
adjusted further, and then Ryu frowned.

"What's wrong?"

"My satchel and rod's are back up on the cliff.  Can't do much else
without them."

"Well, I can go get them now, it wouldn't take long."

"I really don't wanna trouble you, I can go get--"

Nina held up a hand.  "Simplicity is best, right?  I can be there and
back in five minutes."

"Okay, I guess," Ryu sighed, relenting.  "But won't it--"

Nina tooke to the air with a beat of her raven wings, not staying to
hear the ranger finish.

"... Wouldn't it be rather cold, since you're still soaking wet?" he
inquired of the empty air.


*******************


Truth be told, Nina was freezing her slim tush to splinters.  Pity she
only remembered that she was still waterlogged thirty seconds after
embracing the skies.

Then again, it was an understandable oversight.  She was in a rush to
help the dragonboy, in any way she could.  Next to cheering him up and
keeping useful, a little cold was insignificant.

One could say that she was determined for Ryu not to have reason to
dismiss her, similar to the origin of the nervousness that refused to
allow her to approach the boy earlier.

Nina told that one to quietly stuff it where demons did not tread.

She spied the travel pack and hated rod, and touched down lightly
beside them.  She gathered the items, shifting them to a comfortable
grip, and took flight once more.


*******************


"I guess it didn't take long at all."

It was a comment made mostly to himself.  Though the cliff was a small
way from their resting spot, it was no strain to follow the girl's
flight path.  Now she was on her way back, no doubt struggling under
the exceptional duress of his pack.

Ryu turned to the distant coastline and afternoon sun, and sighed.
Honestly, he was such a heel, sometimes.

He wasn't able to keep on his thoughts much longer.  His attention
was drawn away by the soft thud behind him.  He turned around to see
Nina, hunched over his pack, shaking.

"Heavier than I imagined," she managed between gulps of air.

Ryu made to help her, but the girl refused, shaking her head.  He
watched her stand and attempt picking up the pack again, and decided
he'd watched enough.

"Huh?" was the only remark Nina made as he lifted the weight from her
hands and shouldered its bulk.

"Sorry," he spoke, picking up the rod from the ground as well.  "I
should have warned you how heavy it was."

"It wasn't any trouble, really!"  She waved her hands as if to ward off
his suddenly somber expression.

Still, Ryu was unconvinced.  "Why don't you go ahead and warm up by
the fire?  I'll finish that line, and see what I can coup up for
dinner."

The girl started to protest again, but relented, and headed to the ring.

Still wet, and feeling even soggier internally, Ryu pulled spare twine
from a pouch on his pack and tied the two staves together.

He looked at the completed hangline, and, satisfied, placed the pack
on the ground.  He opened the main pouch and riffled through its
contents, pulling out a pot, two folded blankets, and a set of short,
metal rods.  While Nina watched, he deftly set up the rods over the
fire, creating a short, open grill.

"Doesn't that hurt?"  The Windian asked, focused on Ryu's hands working
so close to the flame.

He looked up at her, and gave a cheerful grin.  "Actually?  Yes."

Her face made an anxious frown.  "Why keep doing it, then?"

"Not thinking, mostly.  Got other things on my mind."  His expression
didn't change, so he turned to her and shrugged.  "It's not that bad,
really."

"I think it is," Nina responded quietly.

"Huh?"

"No, nothing."

Ryu regarded the girl's huddled form across from his own.   Deciding
the fish and fire could wait, he dug in his pack once more, pulling out
his canteen and a few strips of dried jerky.

"Zenny for your thoughts?"


*******************


Nina's eyes appraised his offerings, and accepted them.  She swallowed
her nervousness, and said, "I want to know why you're feeling so glum."
She fought off an urge to shiver, and scooted closer to the fire.

"Eh?  You think I'm sad?"

"Well, yes."  The mage motioned helplessly with her hands, summoning
a spirit of benevolence.  "I mean, we won our bid against the church of
Evans, but you don't seem thrilled in the least."

"I guess not."  Ryu chewed his piece of jerky.  "It doesn't feel that
serious."

"It certainly looks so," she replied.  "Back at Township, you looked so
cornered and frustrated at everyone.

"And if it was really nothing serious enough to worry about," Nina
continued, her wings twitching with agitation.  "Then why leave?"
She watched her companion carefully.  Having bared her thoughts in the
open for him to ingest, she was anxious for a response.

Or, in the least, a couple of zenny.

"Nina," the dragonboy started.  "Have you ever just wanted away?  A
break from all the stress?"

The Windian mage slowly shook her head, still watching his now sullen
expression.

"This mission has gotten to be a lot to accept.  We simultaneously
stopped a source of demonic power, toppled a major religious icon, and
destroyed a revered holy city."

What could Nina do but nod?  To call their schedule busy was to call
the ocean wet.  Of course, the ocean might slap one for such a brazen
observation about her state of being.

"And I know where we have to go, next."

"You do?"  Nina regarded him with what could have been mistaken for
exasperation.  "Then why did you let everyone argue themselves blue?"

Ryu shook his head.  "I think they knew, already, and they're running,
too."

Now there was no mistaking, it WAS exasperation.  "I would've certainly
liked being let in on this glaringly obvious objective."  She crossed
her arms and stared balefully at the campfire, which shrank back out
of fear.

"Didn't mean it like that.  It's just..." He scratched his head,
uncertain.  "Do you realize we have to kill a god?"

"Well, it was a thought," she replied weakly.

"That's a problem.  We're supposed to make it a reality," he said,
scowling.

"Hey, I know we can do it," Nina was looking directly at Ryu with a
very familiar intensity.  "We've gotten this far, right?  Who's to say
we can't topple an overblown demon?"

Ryu followed the fire's early example, wilting under her gaze.  "You
sound awfully confident."

"Well, of course!  You haven't let me down, Ryu."  Nina's olive eyes
softened, and she began to feel the returning butterflies in the pit of
her stomach.  "I always feel that as long as you're around, things will
turn out for the best."

She studied the timid campfire, unable to hold her vision to the ranger.
She suddenly felt very foolish, stating she depended on him like a lame
man would a crutch--

Or a maiden her significant other.

A frightening theory made itself known.  Perhaps her feelings were just
that, an actual attraction to the dragonboy?  If so, then what could she
do about them?

"Hey, that's only because I always got you guys to back me up.
Especially you, Nina."

The temperature of Nina's cheeks increased fifteen degrees, despite
her clothing's cold, clamy influence.  "No, I just get in the way far
too much."

"You kidding?  Without your stern determination, good advice, and
magic, I wouldn't even be here.  You're the one that toasted Joker,
remember?"

A shiver ran though the girl's spine, then doubled back for good
measure.  She felt pleased, strengthened by Ryu's words.  "When you
put it in that way, Evans doesn't really seem like such a big problem."

Nina watched the ranger as he fingered his chest, the faintest flicker
of something dark, cold, and terrifying crossing his features.  "I
s'pose not..."

"Ryu?"  Nina fought down another shudder.

"Then, just in case, y'know?"  He was eyeing the site where they were
resting, taking in the campfire that was growing in confidence, his
satchel and rod.  His gaze expanded, becoming far off, distant.  "I
still can't think that victory is certain, so maybe I wanted to take
it all in while I could--"

For once, the Windian princess could explain her impulse toward Ryu.
Thankfully, he was more than willing to hear the reckoning behind
the smothering hug she had suddenly given him.

"That's okay, to feel uncertain about the future.  It means you can
try harder for what you want to happen.   You taught me that, Ryu."

But this won't be the last time, she swore to herself.  She would see
him through their final obstacle.  Then, he would fish all he wanted,
until he grew sick of the sport.

"Nina, are you okay?  You're shaking."

Her face reddened deeply.  He couldn't be affecting her that greatly,
could he?

"ACHOO!"

It was a possibility.

"Lemme stoke that fire some more," Ryu said, disengaging their embrace.
His cheeks were flushed as well.

"Wait, could you help me out?"  Nina began playing with the ornate
bracers on her arms, unfastening the snaps.

"With what?"  the dragonboy asked, turning from their pile of collected
wood.

"Unzip this dress, would you?"  She suppressed the giggle that would
have otherwise worsened his abashed appearance.  "You weren't thinking
about hanging fish on that clothesline, were you?  Or would you rather
I catch my death of cold?"  She made a face at him, a playful scowl.
"A lot of good I'd be against Evans, then!"

"I get it!" he stated, horribly anxious.  Nina did giggle then, but
turned around to hide the expression from Ryu.  She stretched her
midnight wings to allow the ranger access while she finished removing
her bracers, and started on her belt.

"Um, there might be prowlers around, y'know," Nina heard from behind
her.  "It's still day out, and this place is pretty popular."

Nina felt the dress being pulled, and positioned her aviary appendages
to slip through the fabric.  "Well, you'll just have to defend my honor,
won't you?"


*******************


Ryu mulled over the idea of admitting he was indeed intending to use
the hangline for drying dinner, but rejected the thought, not liking
the chance that the Windian might take it badly.

Feebly trying to swallow his feelings of apprehension, he unzipped the
dark blue dress and pulled aside the loose material, letting Nina slide
her wings through the custom slots in the flaps of the garment.
Feathers grazed the dragonboy, letting him feel their soft texture.

Then the ligaments were free.  He stood back and watched Nina,
nervousness preventing incentive to do little else.  It appeared she
was hesitant to finish, but he realized she was only bending low to
reach the flaps to pull the gown from her shoulders.  The fabric
conceded to her fingers, and she finished undressing in a quick
fashion.

Not that Ryu noticed.

His male brain was far too busy processing other details.  Nina's back
was exposed, though it was evident she had some sort of leotard
covering the rest of her torso and abdomen, leaving her legs deliciously
bare.  Her fine skin tone, much like the outside of an apricot fruit,
was a sight to behold.  Her back was smooth, and gave final definition
to her slim, waifish figure.  The joints for her wings, where shoulder
blade met socket, was a thick collection of skin, more pale than any
other part on her body.  The Windian was also slightly bent over,
wiggling the dress down her hips.  The swishing motion of her firm rump
had its own delightfulness to admire.

All of this was taken in, sorted through, and used to erect the
conclusion that he needed to use aviary bait MUCH more often.

The Windian girl stood and shook the dress, shook it again for good
measure, then neatly folded the garment over the hangline.

"It should be almost dry by dusk, don't you think?"  She asked, turning
to face him.

Ryu nodded dumbly, not confident he still had a voice to use.  At least,
his throat felt dry enough that any air irritation just might crack the
walls within, leaving his head to lull and tumble to the ground.

Indeed, it was a leotard, a light violet.  The material was smooth,
hugging every bit of Nina surface it touched.  And it did not hide the
Windian's bountiful chest, like her dress did.

And it was wet, too.

"Ryu?" Nina titled her head to the side.

The boy followed the movement.

Were he capable of higher objective thought, he'd have noticed the
mage's wan smile.

"Come on, Ryu, I'm not that much of a spectacle."

Ryu's glassy, yet focused expression begged to differ.

"Honestly," she huffed, folding her wings in front of her body.  "You
act like a little boy, sometimes."

"Nothing wrong with that," he muttered.

"What?"

Ryu shook his head, dispelling the fascination.  The winged girl eyed
him a moment longer, then sat down, focusing on removing her boots.

"So," she started, pulling a slim leg from the footwear.  "What now?"

Ryu considered their options.  "We can try to catch some fish, but I
don't think my luck'll change."

"Just site here and dry off, then?"  There went boot number two.

"Unless you suddenly feel like packing up and heading back to town,
or hunting."  He turned his gaze from her lower appendages to regard
the sun's slow dance into the horizon.

"Not really," Nina admitted, playing in the sand with her toes.  "But
don't you want to dry off, too?"

"Huh?"  He thought about the comments, and waved his hand dismissively.
"Nah, I'm fine."

"You were shaking too, you know."  The makings of a pout were showing
on Nina's face.  "And I shouldn't have to be the only one here,
indecent."

"Well--if it'll make you happy."

"It most certainly would," she replied with a straight face.

Hesitant, he tugged his shirt from its tucked position, and pulled it
over his head, hanging it next to the Windian's dress.  He started to
take off his pants when he heard the girl gasp.

"Where... How did you get that?"

Answers evaded his mind momentarily while he regarded her shocked
stare.  Then, a cold blanket covered his senses; his hand traced his
chest, the source of Nina's attention.

"An accident, long ago."  But not really.  Distant memories had the perk
of distorting to age and disillusionment.  This event was crystal clear,
even in his nightmares.  From the damp, dark atmosphere, to the
networking signals of agony speeding through his body.  The faint moans
of his dispatched comrade, hurled carelessly into a corner of the cavern.
The grating, screeching echo of voices coming from one eldritch throat.

The demon's visage, triumphant over his own child form.

"Ryu?"

The blossom of scarlet protruding from his tiny vessel, victim of the
Nightmare's speak-like tail...

"Ryu!"


*******************


It was an unnerving sight.  The boy looked trapped in some unseen
terror, and his body was corresponded.  Skin pale, frame shaking, Ryu
retreated further into himself.  He would have curled up and allowed
the shell shock full reign had Nina not grabbed and shaken him.

As he came back to the present, eyes haunted, Nina reflected that the
symptoms weren't what frightened her, but the disease.  The boy had
been gripped by something foreboding and powerful.  Something, she
gathered, he'd face again, soon.

"Nina?"

"I'm here," she replied, hugging him to reassure the both of them that
they were tangible.  "What was that about?"  She pulled back slightly,
trying to read his emotions.

"A reminder," came the soft response.  "that sometimes, it don't matter
how hard you try."

A shame the idea seemed just as tangible as they were.  At least, she
felt much more of where the dragonboy was coming from.  It became
entirely possible, now, that they wouldn't survive the demon's assault,
that the attempt she made to cheer up Ryu would be in vain.

And he'd never know the anxiety that she felt around him.

"Well, then, I'll still be there," she found herself saying.  "Even if
it's not going to be enough."

"Nina?"

She looked at his pained expression.  "But, just in case this is our
last moment of peace..."

Her anxieties looked on in confusion.  Could she be capable...?

Nina's lips met a surprised Ryu's.

Her anxieties cheered.

Nina held the contact a few breaths, then released the boy.  Her stomach
went about the task of knotting itself with worry.  Ryu hadn't returned
the kiss.  Instead, he stared at her, confusion gaining pole lead over
disquieted fear within his eyes.

That she observed, anyway.

What had possessed her to chance her feelings on one little kiss?  No
doubt she was relieved of the burden of quietly supporting Ryu, but
there was no guarantee that'd he'd reciprocate.

"Th-thank you," he stammered.

Nina did her best not to look crestfallen by Ryu's lack of reaction.
"Well, that's what friends are for."

And she meant it.  She would stick by him, even into certain death.
The mage owed him that much.  She'd also be doing so without regret,
which made the weight easier to carry.  Awkward, yes, since he did
not return her feelings, but easier all the same--

Wait, something was happening that she should be paying attention to.

Oh, lovely, he was kissing her.

Nina cheered internally.

She lazily noted details while they kissed.  Though they both reeked of
ocean and firewood, there was a subtle, spicy smell to the dragonboy
she decided she liked.

His hands were rough and callused, caressing the small of her back,
making her feel smothered in his grasp.

And he tasted of jerky.

He broke the kiss, which Nina didn't mind , because she scooted into
his lap and returned the necking attention.  She felt his tongue against
her lips and opened her mouth, enjoying the sensation of a wet, warm
muscle not of her body probing her mouth.  In turn she prodded him with
her own.

Not content with the intimate, but light, necking, she traced the
definitions of his back and hair, thinking Ryu would get an idea of
her urges.  Nina was satisfied as his hands began roaming, leaving a
slightly tingling feeling wherever they touched.  Along her sides,
running to the tops of her naked thighs, then faintly tracing her ass.
Aided by the light cotton, Ryu's fingers danced pleasingly along Nina's
skin, and then--


*******************


Ryu parted as the girl gasped sharply, anxious of some mistake he'd
made.  "Nina?

He'd gone too far, accused the echo in his head.  He ignored it in favor
of waiting for the birdgirl to answer him.

"Wings are sensitive," she replied, faced flushed.  "You just hit a spot
on my joints is all."

"Really?"

She smiled at him, and gave him a peck on the cheek.  "It's why I don't
let people touch my wings.  Not that it's painful or anything. Just...
practice a little care, okay?"

Bashfulness set in, as well as thoughts of what he was doing.  What
was he doing, being so close with Nina?  He was surprised at her
aggressive bid, and it worried him, as well.  Not that he didn't return
her feelings, merely that the concept was so new to him, unfamiliar.
The boy did not know where they could go, or how far they could take
themselves.

Admittedly, he hoped it was quite a distance.

As if she sensed his doubt, Nina bent her left wing into his reach, an
offering.

Ryu carefully traced along her feathered skin, gauging her shivers and
sudden jolts.  First, from the fold of her primary feathers, then
further up until he'd reached the joint protruding from her back.

The girl pressed herself against him while he prodded the bundle of
nerves within her wings, making low, breathy coos in his ear.

"That's good..." She trailed off as he ran his thumb along her pale
flesh, massaging it.

And then he was suddenly halted by Nina, who turned his head and kissed
him passionately.  His mouth opened, and she invaded eagerly.  His
hands left her wing, arms clenching around the girl's back , pulling
her until she was mashed against him.


*******************


He'd hit a hot spot, Nina concluded while their tongues dueled.  It was
only fair, then, to find a similar zone on him in kind.  But, striking
the most obvious place to look, where would it be?

She mapped a course and broke the kiss, planting them instead on the
curve of Ryu's jaw and cheek.  Reaching his left ear, she tested her
decision with a kiss, and was rewarded by his shiver.

Excited she'd found her mark, the winged girl kissed and nibbled at
Ryu's outer ear, running her tongue along its bends and folds, while
raking her other hand through his mop of blue hair.  The spicy scent
of the dragonboy became much more evident to her nose.

Then she felt his hands on her breasts, slowly fondling them through
the damp leotard.  Nina relaxed and shifted, giving the boy room to
move freely, but refused to surrender her assault on his ear, as if
convinced there was a challenge to see who would succumb to sensation
first.

It was quite the fun contest.  She darted her small, pink organ about
Ryu's ear, and then down his jaw line, suckling and pecking his jugular.
In turn, he palmed her left breast, and dragged his grip away from her
until he only clasped the erect nipple.  He flicked and pulled at the
bud while pressing into her other breast with the limited reach of his
left hand.

Nina paused to gasp again, bewildered that molestation could feel so
good.  At least, how much more intense it felt than her own brief
periods of self abuse.  She spared herself further attempts to compare,
instead desiring more of what Ryu was doing to her.

She adjusted herself again in the dragonboy's lap, her legs to either
side of his hips, facing him directly.  Burden shifted, Nina watched as
the boy played happily with her breasts, tweaking, pushing, rubbing.
She fidgeted and twitched at his every action, a piano reacting to his
innocent keystrokes.  Her eyes narrowed with the erotic impulses, and
it was suddenly urgent to have more access to the deeds that were
causing a warm pleasantness to build in her stomach.

Ryu beat her initiative, pulling at the thin, wet garment.  Nina nodded
her assent, struggling to pull an arm from the gripping material.  One
sleeve was loose, and then the other.  She pushed the top past her
breast, down to her waist, and looked to her partner.

The boy's eyes darted to every part of her body he could take in from
his vantage point.  Despite herself, Nina felt the need to hide in the
neighboring water.

"Ryu, I really can't be that much of a spectacle," she echoed her
earlier words, resisting covering herself.

Ryu didn't answer, instead choosing to rove her figure more with his
hungry gaze.  Then, a warm smile appeared on his lips.

"You'd be surprised."

Nina pouted, raising an arm. To thump the boy or hide herself she hadn't
decided.  Her chance to retort was taken from her by a kiss.  Ryu
continued his sensual ministrations of her chest, and she decided to
forgive his mean commentary.

The thought evolved into rewarding the boy when he tilted her back,
supporting her back with his right hand, and licked her engorged
nipples.  The hot, wet feeling came without warning, not that she
would have deemed one necessary.  The princess was taking quite
a liking to surprises.

Her wings fluttered, feathers drawing lines in the sand as he suckled
her, flicking her buds with his tongue.  Greedily, he attempted to
take the entire fleshy mound into his mouth, free hand content to stroke
and caress every part of Nina it reached.

By heat within her abdomen growing, Nina was content to allow it.


*******************

Ryu pressed his advantage, pleased that something was willing to conform
to his attentions.  Nina made a better time of it than the fish.

For one, she was much warmer, and was able to share that sensation with
him, stroking his chest and stomach with her dainty hands.

As another, she responded well to every luring motion he made, from
pulling the bright red nub of her right breast with his teeth, forcing
her to tense and follow, to making her jump by shifting his grip from
cradling her back to kneading the firm, ripe flesh of her cheeks.

The Windian even made resisting an excitement all its own, softly
grinding into his hips, giving Ryu a delicious, arousing friction to
savor.

He idly pondered cooking and eating her, but choose to follow a
gutting method instead.

He switched his oral titillation to her left tit, and used his roaming
left hand to massage her warm crotch from behind.  He pressed and rubbed
at her outer lips with his palm, feeling the girl buck and grind to his
hand immediately.

Ryu watched Nina while he continued rubbing her through the crotch of
her undergarment.  She no longer seemed fully aware, eyes glazed and
lidded, breath shallow and short.  Her hands had ceased their wandering,
one anchored in his hair while the other gripped a handful of sand.

The sight drew the boy to further action, working his hand past the
fabric and into the fold of the wing girl's pussy.  Nina accepted the
intrusion with a moan.

He inserted a finger within her, experiencing firsthand the smothering
heat and silkiness of her inner muscles.

"More," came the sudden, husky request.

Ryu drew the girl into another kiss, more powerful than before.  The
two darted around each other's mouths as he worked another digit into
her, stretching her lips, pumping and curling his fingers.  The motion
yielded another breathy moan, making Nina seem desperate for the
contact.  Ryu couldn't imagine feeling that good, though the girl's hips
grinding against his hand and pelvis was quite the experience itself.

The Windian upped the sensation for him when her sand-crusted hand
found its way past his pants, stroking along his shaft.  His breath
caught in his throat, and his fingers thrust forward in tense reflex.

Nina cried out, shuddering violently, and leaning bodily against a
shocked Ryu.

"Nina?  Are you okay?"  When she didn't immediately respond, he removed
his hand and shifted his grip to comfort her.  At least, until he saw
the traces of blood amongst the fluids of his fingers.

"Nina?" he asked again, starting to become frightened.

"My...maidenhood, I think."  There were tears in her eyes, and it
wrenched at the boy's heart.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you.  I shouldn't have tried that."

"No, you would have had to, eventually."  The birdgirl smiled, a small
emotion defying the pain her face expressed.  "You still have to, I
think."

"Not if you don't want--"

His protest was silenced with a placed hand to his lips.  "I do, and
I'm sure you do, too."  A kiss, chaste, and she began unbuckling his
pants.

He took the encouragement, lifting the girl from her seat on his lap,
and standing up, working what circulation he could back into his legs.
He then stripped the wet, sandy clothing from his person, hanging it on
the line.

As Ryu grabbed a blanket to lay out next to the fire, Nina shrugged
the leotard to her feet, stepping out of it.  She tossed it to Ryu,
giving him an appraising look.  "You know, you're not such a bad
spectacle yourself."

The boy chuckled, dispelling the sudden feeling of awkwardness.  The
princess appreciated him and desired him, and the feeling that notion
gave him was the best he'd experienced all day.


*******************


Nina walked to her friend, comrade, and new lover, and embraced him.
She reveled in the feeling of their skin pressed together, warmth coming
from one another, the campfire, the setting sun blushing at the couple's
lusty display.

Nina knelt on the blanket, pondering how to best be comfortable without
messing and cramping her wings.  Ryu beat her to the solution once more,
laying down, and pulling her on top of his body.

Her erotic hunger made itself known, and she answered it, grabbing onto
the boy's dick, positioning the organ at her pussy's opening.  Her
partner, not content with merely laying still, grabbed her by the hips
and pushed upwards.

A loud whimper escaped her lips as she felt herself stretched.  Sinews
and nerves, unknown to her before, danced signals up her spine.

Then he thrust further, into the point of her previous pain.  Nina bit
her lip, stifling any more sounds her body intended her to make.

Ryu withdrew, leaving an oddly pleasant void where his heat and mass
had occupied.  He was there again, beginning to work up a slow, aching
friction.  Nina bucked her hips in time with his steady rhythm, building
on her sensations with every rise and drop.  She bent and kissed him,
inadvertently giving herself more delight as her nipples slid across
his torso.  She remained bent to him, positioning her hands on either
side of his head for support.

It was heaven.

As their coupling increased in tempo, Nina ceased her attempts to keep
silent.  With every push, another moan of happiness was voiced.  She
observed her reflexive whimpers and cries drive Ryu to increase his
efforts, running deeper into her body, and, in turn, eliciting more of
her vocals.  A vicious, blissful cycle, she thought.

But something was bound to give.  Ryu looked focused, as if she were
the key to some grand epiphany.  His thrusts were much more aggressive,
and his hands were roaming her body again, tracing lines marked by her
own sweat, running along the tops of her swaying breasts.  Fingers of
that same hand that had pumped her earlier trailed along her shoulder
blades, to the joints of her shaking wings--

That did it.

Nina cried out, her loudest yet, as her climax drove her into a spasm-
filled nothingness where she lost all sense of focus--and was pushed
further still by the eruption of Ryu within her, doubling the intensity.


*******************


When the wave of absolute euphoria subsided, Ryu amended his thoughts,
as he was confident the rush was the best feeling he'd have all day.

In his post-spasm, serene state, he observed Nina's decent from her own
envelopment.  She was the picture of disheveled, even her ebony wings
were frayed and bristled.

To the Dragon clansman, she never looked more beautiful.

He held her close, content to match her breathing.  It became some
unspoken agreement, the two laying flat, starring toward a flustered,
mortified sunset.

Eventually, the Windian princess did speak up.  "We haven't had dinner,
yet."

"Eh, I got my catch," he replied with a smile.

The birdgirl regarded his face, then kissed him.  "That was horribly
corny."

"Yup."  Another silly smile.

"Well, don't tell me all you intend to do is hold your victory up?"

He chuckled, glad Nina was playing along.  "I could toss you back."

"And reel me in again, huh?"

"Why not?  It was fun the first time."  The two kissed, glad to have
found each other among the prudish seas, whimsy skies, wallflower fish,
and one amorous, now insanely jealous, cliff.


*******************






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