A BIRTHDAY TO REMEMBER

"It's been five years since I was kidnapped by General Latoine and Ryo went to save me. And bro, somehow I was glad when he confessed his feelings for me, even if indirectly. But some how, nothing has changed between us. He still remains indifferent towards me. He still continues with his usual perversions and his skirt chasing ire remains unchanged." thought a 28 year old Kaori Makimura, as she silently wept while kneeling beside the grave of her late brother, Makimura.

Kaori's POV: "Miki and Falcon have got married and I'm really happy for the both of them. Today's my birthday but yet he's never been nice to me, on any of my birthdays. He's a great guy but I really wish this thick-skinned friend of yours would understand. I really love and care for him for standing beside me and realise his love for me. But somehow...somehow..."said Kaori. But before she could complete her sentence, a bored Ryo exclaimed "Ah, Kaori, are you done with your contemplation and confessions to your brother 'cause I'm really getting bored and tired here without the company of women."

"What the hell are you saying? What kind of heartless and insensitive idiot are you, not feeling anything in front of your ex-partner's grave?" said a really infuriated Kaori.

"Insensitive, am I?" though Ryo to himself.

"What did you say?" snapped Kaori

"Ah, nothing, let's go!"

The couple drove back to their apartment. While driving Ryo pondered as to how his life changed when the Makimura siblings stepped into his life, to change his life forever.

Ryo's POV: It's true that it's been five years and nothing has changed between us, at all. We still fight over petty issues; I still keep on drinking till late and enjoy my company with women, while she awaits my arrival till late at night. I know when I die I'm going to die a dog's death, with even a dog not pissing beside my grave. But I know at least she's going to stay beside me, like a tower of strength. I know I love her and yet-

Ryo continued with his train of thoughts while driving, had it not been for Kaori exclaiming "Ryo, what are you doing?"

"What?"

"We've reached already and yet you've crossed our apartment"

Ryo apologised and swerved back the car towards their apartment. After reaching their apartment, Kaori cooked lunch while Ryo bathed. The couple took lunch in utter silence and Kaori thought to herself "I can't believe it! Today's my birthday and he's not wished me, even once. I knew he was an insensitive bastard. But up to this extent!" She wanted to break the silence so she said "Hey Ryo"

Ryo: "Yeah"

Kaori: "Today's a special day? Right"

Ryo said nothing and only nodded his head

Kaori: "I think maybe we should do something special in the evening?"

Ryo: "Like what?"

Kaori: "I don't know. Maybe we bring some good wine or champagne and maybe a good dinner"

Ryo: "Yeah whatever. If its wine and dinner I'm open to the prospect but I'm going out now and won't be back before evening, bye"

Soon after lunch, he left to take a short stroll around the town and towards the park close by their apartment, to check out some pretty girls and also to buy a gift for Kaori. While strolling around the town, he came across a few good gift shops, but battled with confusion as to what gift he should buy her.

Ryo POV: I wonder what should, I buy her. I know I've never brought her any gifts. And seriously speaking, the main reason why I remember her birthday is because you died on the same day. Makimura, I know you might hate me forever, but I can't help it, you know. I know I've made a lot of beautiful women fall in love with me. But she is the only woman who has made me fall in love with her, and stolen my heart forever! (And boy, do I find it hard to come in terms with this truth, every day!) And I hate her for that!

While searching for a gift, he entered a small gift shop in Akiba, and found a perfect gift for his partner as well- a beautiful, small but simple ring to express his feelings, in the best way possible. At first, he was reluctant to purchase the ring, but eventually thought that maybe this gift would be a remuneration of all those years of not buying a birthday gift for the woman he loved the most.

He returned home in the evening, only to find the lights turned off, for no apparent reason. "That's strange. Why are the lights all turned off?" he thought to himself.

Ryo: Kaori, Oi Kaori. Where are you? As he searched around the house for his most beloved person

Kaori: Here, in my room.

Stumbling on his way, Ryo reached Kaori's room and said "What's the matter? Why did you turn all the lights..." but before he could complete the sentence, Kaori lit up the room with a couple of candle lights turning it into the most beautiful room ever.

"WOW" he thought to himself.

Ryo's POV: The room was barely candlelit, two champagne and a few beer bottles were placed on the table. But still it was looking beautiful and awesome. I kept on staring at her as she smiled and lit up the room with candles. She was dressed up simply, barely in a simple black skirt and a linen shirt, with nude make-up on her face. But she seemed more beautiful and striking than any woman in the world. Although, I've never looked at her, as an object of my sexual fantasy, but somehow, tonight, my friend down there just doesn't seem to agree. I kept on staring and smiling at her as she struggled with the champagne bottles.

Kaori: Ryo, Ryo, come and help me open the bottles.

Ryo: Wow, you can't open it tonight, but I thought that a cross-dressing young man like you could do anything! By the way, you can pull yourself off as a girl tonight, maybe!

Kaori took out a thousand pound hammer and shouted "Watch what you say, you idiot!"

Ryo: Joking, joking, Kaori-chan!

Kaori put the hammer away and said "Any way, you're lucky it's my birthday tonight and I'm in a good mood."

Ryo just kept on laughing to himself and a few minutes later, the couple sat beside each other, on the couch, enjoying the evening and drinking champagne.

Ryo: Oh Kaori

Kaori: What?

Ryo: I know I've never given you a birthday gift and-

Kaori: And what?

Ryo: "And I know its wrong and all. But can I make up, all these years, by giving you this" he added as he took out the ring and put it in her hand."

Kaori: Oh wow. Gee thanks, Ryo.

The ring was really pretty but a little bit small in size. So it wouldn't fit into her hand

Kaori: What the hell? It's not fitting in my ring finger.

Ryo: Oh I'm sorry. Why don't you try it in your little finger?

Kaori: Hmm. But isn't this meant for the ring finger?

Ryo: Bah, who cares, as long as it fits, wear it any finger

"Is it?" said Kaori as she wore the ring in her little finger and appeared a little sad.

Kaori's POV: "So he simply gave it to me as a birthday gift and nothing else. Yeah, but what was I expecting, from a man like him! Hey, but who cares! At least, he remembered my birthday, and gave me something cute and nice!"

Kaori looked at the ring as tears started dribbling down from her eyes.

Ryo: What's the matter? What's wrong? You hate the ring?

"No it's not that! It's just that, this ring reminds me of bro" replied Kaori, as she wiped tears from her eyes.

"Oh", sighed Ryo

Kaori: You know remember the time when I was in high school and I stumbled upon you and bro...

Ryo listened to Kaori narration, with a blank expression on his face, as if something else was going on in his head.

Ryo's POV: Shit, didn't even seem to notice the time flying by. At first, it was just two bottles of champagne, but I think, right now, we must be on our 28th glass of beer! Damn! And why the hell is she dressed up like a doll today! Man this is bad! I'm at the rate of losing myself and so is she. At this rate, we both might not last that long. She's dressed in such simple, plain, all so common clothes, but somehow she's so irresistible. And her lips! Damn those lips! I wish I could make her mine now!

Ryo smiled with a dreamy expression on his face as he noticed Kaori's lips and eyes while she continued talking. But suddenly, she started crying and clutched onto Ryo, like a child.

Ryo's POV: Man, what is she doing? Has the alcohol got into her head or something? Man this is bad! Got to do something, real fast! Her lips seem so like a dream now!

Kaori: I'm sorry, Ryo. But I couldn't control my emotions. I'm really missing aniue...

"Its ok" said Ryo cutting her short, as he lifted her face up by her chin, wiped her tears and pressed his lips onto hers.

"Damn! What the hell am I doing?" thought Ryo as he deepened his kiss

Kaori finally pulled herself together for some air and exclaimed "Ryo? What?"She turned her face away in embarrassment. Ryo thought that maybe she might summon one of her divine hammers and churn him into separate pieces.

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. Please forgive me, Kaori. I didn't mean to-"apologised a heavily embarrassed Ryo who felt Kaori's anger might send him into outer space, right now! But before he could complete his sentence, a teary eyed Kaori hugged him and pressed her lips onto his.

"Idiot is that how you feel? Is that how you feel towards me?" she said as she cried her heart out to which Ryo simply nodded his head.

Ryo's POV: Man I think we can't go back now! It's too late.

"Her lips, her soft lips" he said as he wiped away some of her tears, off her face and kissed her passionately.

Ryo piggy-backed her onto his room and they resumed kissing passionately, on his bed. It's as if all these years of living the life of a beast in darkness, finally gave way to sunlight.