Continuation of "Tsukimori's Mission"
As Len and Kahoko walked hand in hand, the wind started to pick up even more…
Len could feel Kahoko's hand shaking and when looking over, could see that the cold was starting to get to her. He had to do something quick…
"Hurry! This way!"
Kahoko was startled as Tsukimori pulled her into an alcove that was shielded from most of the wind. There was a bench and a trashcan in it, and Tsukimori was quick. He sat them down, pulled Kahoko's violin from her, and set it on the ground, then set his others things down and pulled off both of his gloves.
"What are you doing Tsukimori-kun?" said Kahoko, startled as her hands were exposed to the freezing air.
"Making sure your don't freeze."
And he held her hands in his, rubbing them close together generating heat. Then he realized that there was still the problem of the rest of her body…
"Well, survival guidelines would say to strip off all clothing and huddle together… strip her… No! Get your head out of the gutter Len that won't work! And she'd hardly consent to that! What do I do?" Shaking his head to keep it from wandering he pulled himself back to the problem at hand, and realizing a solution he asked Kahoko…
"Hino?" but as he looked down at her, he got no answer. "Hino!?" he said louder, and to his horror he realized that her eyes were closed and her shaking was getting worse. "Kahoko!" he cried out, still no answer. With dread filling his heart, he stood up quickly and started to unbutton his coat, he opened his coat and blazer, and then reached over and undid Kahoko's coat and pulled her vertical. Pulling her close, he rested her head over his heart, and wrapped his blazer and coat as well as he could around her and rubbed as much as he could. "Please Kami-sama, I don't want to lose her. I couldn't live with myself if she suffered for my selfishness." He felt her cold body against his, and tried to concentrate on getting her warm… it seemed to him hours that he stood there praying.
Kahoko could feel herself waking up, but something was odd…
She took a quick tally of what she felt.
Her hands were warmer… a hand holding both of hers.
She had feeling in her body again… there seemed to be something wrapped around her.
There was a strong heartbeat under her hands and an arm around her…
Wait… a Heartbeat and an Arm?
Her eyes flew open and felt a hand holding her hands to the chest, the other hand supporting her. Hot breaths were caressing her hair. Finally she said "Tsukimori?"
Len thought that he had heard beautiful sounds before, but when his Kahoko woke and said his name… even if it was his surname, that was more angelic then any choir or orchestra. Without even thinking or hesitating, he let go of her hands and wrapped both arms even more securely around her burying his face in her hair and neck. He was shaking from head to foot and it had nothing to do with the cold, while whispering her name, and thanking god out loud that she was okay.
Kahoko was startled at Tsukimori's behavior and could feel heat pooling in her body as he whispered "Kahoko, Thank God, Kahoko…" in her ear.
She moved her hands to his shoulders, and tried to push away to look at him, but he only let a small whimper of protest, shook his head against her neck and held her more firmly.
Kahoko didn't know what to think. She remembered Tsukimori rubbing her hands, and then nothing. Then she remembered feeling very sleepy. "I must have fallen asleep and blacked out!" she thought "No wonder Tsukimori was so concerned… wait… first compliments, hand holding, smiling, and now showing affection?"
"Um… who are you and what have you done with Tsukimori?"
Startled by her question Len quickly loosened his grip and looked her full in the face, a frown adorning his. Only then did he see the playfulness in her expression as she said "Oh good, it is you, you were acting so strange…"
"I was not!" Len replied "I was only relieved, you were comatose for so long…"
"How long?"
"I have no idea…" said Len, but he did not seem to have a problem with it. Now, Kahoko was very confused at this, but as feeling returned to her limbs she realized, that in her awaked state she had failed to realize their current position.