It's been way too long since I've been around here! I recently started rewatching Gash Bell again to relive some memories, and it's invoking all my love for this ship! Well, after all these years, sadly I've also come to be less delusioned and be more aware of the Kiyomaro and Suzume moments too sobs, but my KiyomaroxMegumi heart is not stopping!

Came up with this story over a night - it's meant to follow the end of the Faudo at the end of Chapter 275, I Know These Tears. I've included references to the chapters I referenced from in this story too at the end.

Enjoy!

"Ki-yo-ma-ro-kun!"

Kiyomaro looked up from his seat in Apollo's airplane and blinked. The idol sitting opposite him was smiling back at him. Kiyomaro couldn't help but notice how Megumi never really stopped smiling at anyone, except when she was in battle. It was probably a habit that she took away as an idol, constantly having to smile at all her fans and never showing anyone her weak, sad side.

"Is that a new keychain?" Megumi was pointing at Kiyomaro's bag, which the teenager had leaning against his side. The idol was referring to an orange keychain with a red string tied onto Kiyomaro's backpack.

"Ah, this? Yeah, Mizuno gave it to me just a while before we left. She said it was a protection charm she made," Kiyomaro smiled and gazed at the keychain as he explained.

Megumi blinked, stunned for a moment. She felt her heart tighten with jealousy, but shook her head at the thought. She knew for sure that Suzume had feelings for Kiyomaro as much as she did for him, and no matter what, all is fair in love and war, after all.

"Suzume-chan, hm? Ara, Kiyomaro-kun, do you know something?" Megumi cast away all (well, almost all) of her jealousy as she internally reminded herself not to be mean just because it was a competition for love. The idol smiled cheekily at the genius who looked up in confusion.

"What is it?"

"Suzume-chan made that keychain with a red string," Megumi replied, trying to conceal her laugh by covering. It was pretty amusing to the idol how even a genius could be dense about certain details.

"Yeah, I noticed. Is there something to it?" Kiyomaro was still confused.

Megumi tapped her chin lightly as she pondered how to phrase her words. "It's not exactly linked to a keychain, but there is a Japanese legend about red strings. Every two people have a red string that connects their hearts because they're fated. Ara, Kiyomaro-kun, could you and Suzume-chan possibly have a red string connecting to you two?"

The genius immediately turned a deep red, nearly dropping his backpack on the floor. "What are you talking about, Megumi-san? There's no way I could possibly have feelings for Mizuno!"

Megumi felt somewhat relieved at Kiyomaro's answer, yet at the same time sorrow for Suzume. Megumi knew that at the end of the day, her love rival was still someone who was really kind and sweet, albeit really, really dense.

"Besides, Megumi-san, it's just a red string to a keychain, nothing more than that," Kiyomaro was still beet red from earlier as he indignantly insisted.

"Ara, I wonder," Megumi smiled lightly. She knew despite so, Kiyomaro cherished his friendship with Suzume a lot. The idol stared down at her palms, opening and closing her hands periodically - something she did out of habit when hesitating.

"Is there something on your mind, Megumi-san?" Kiyomaro asked.

Megumi shook her head lightly in response, giving the genius a heartening smile. "Nee, Kiyomaro-kun, I know I don't have any protective charm to give you myself, but I will still protect you and Gash-kun, and everyone else this battle, and every other battle we have."

Kiyomaro looked a little surprised at the idol's sudden confession, but nodded his head with a comforting smile. "It's alright, nothing could protect us more than your strong heart and will to protect. You always are the first one to charge forth and protect us with your shields, after all. I really appreciate it, and will be counting more on you in future, Megumi-san!"

The idol laughed. "Ara, then I'll be counting on you and Gash-kun to make up for our weaknesses then!"

"Of course, we make a great team after all!"

Megumi smiled as she silently promised herself that she would always be Kiyomaro's shield.

—

Megumi found tears streaming down her face as Kiyomaro and Gash walked back towards the team, having delivered their final blow of Baou Zakeruga to Faudo and sending the large demon back to his own world. It felt like a thousand emotions were whirring inside her - happiness to see that they had won the battle, relief to see that Kiyomaro was safe once again...

And so, so much guilt that she had failed to live up to her promise to protect the love of her life.

As the rest of the team gathered around the stars of the show and celebrated their victories, Megumi found herself closing her hands around her own arms, holding herself tightly and not moving a single step away from her spot.

It was her failure.

Not all, however, was unaware. Tio stood beside her, gazing up at her with wide eyes filled with so much concern. The mamono knew what her book keeper was feeling, because she herself felt as much desire and will to protect Gash and the remaining mamonos. She knew that Megumi's desire to protect Kiyomaro was surely much stronger, given the feelings she harboured for the teenage genius who had been the first to befriend and save them in the torturous mamono battle. Kiyomaro meant so much to Megumi than anyone could ever imagine - he was her saviour, her friend, and so much more.

"Megumi..."

Megumi snapped out of her thoughts. It was never Megumi's style to show people her weak side, and no one knew this any better than Tio. It was probably part of her career as a solo idol - she had no one and no time to share her concerns, after all. Megumi had to put on the best side of herself for anyone.

Even more reason why Kiyomaro was so important - aside from Tio, he was the first person who saw her at her most vulnerable during the fight with Mars.

"Ara, what's wrong, Tio? Let's join the team!" Megumi smiled cheerily, reaching her hand out to hold Tio's. The red haired mamono looked up, still worried, but followed her book keeper anyways. Even if she knew about Megumi's worries, she knew Megumi would not expose her own weaknesses to her.

The two advanced towards the team, which was now drifting apart as the book keepers each celebrated with joyful hugs and encouraging words with their mamonos.

"Welcome back, Kiyomaro-kun!" Megumi said as cheerily as possible.

"Ah, it's good to be back!" Kiyomaro grinned back.

Tio gently pulled Gash away. For one, she knew that Megumi needed some time with Kiyomaro. For another, she needed some time with Gash as well.

"How are you feeling, Kiyomaro-kun? Are your injuries alright?"

"Mm, I've never felt more alive, literally," the genius chuckled. "You really saved me back there, Megumi-san."

Megumi shook her head. "It was everyone's effort, really. It was thanks to everyone that we could get you the Faudo liquid, and how Gash-kun constantly protected you even when you were unconscious. Gash-kun was even the one to revive you again when he was hammering away on your chest. Not to mention, even Momon contributed by giving you CPR," the idol giggled lightly at the thought.

"Eh?! Momon did what?" Kiyomaro yelled in horror.

"Thanks to Momon, you had life again. Don't tell me that was your first kiss, Kiyomaro-kun?" Megumi winked cheekily as the genius pulled his face in disgust.

"Eh... it was..."

Megumi laughed, and the genius could only find himself smiling back at her. Megumi's positivity was definitely contagious, and something Kiyomaro loved a lot.

"But really, you did an amazing job protecting us all, as usual."

Megumi froze, before tucking her hands behind her and slowly opening and closing them behind her back. The idol turned away for a moment, a flash of guilt in her hazel eyes that did not go unnoticed by the genius.

The idol smiled weakly back at the genius. "Of course, it is my duty after all!"

Kiyomaro shook his head lightly. How much stronger of a front could this girl put up before him?

"Say, Megumi-san, even though Momon took away my first kiss, do you think you could..." The genius couldn't really think of how else to make the idol feel better but to give her a comforting hug and his shoulder to cry on, but even so, it was difficult for him to be so initiative in these kinds of situation. Kiyomaro couldn't help but feel how he was so out of character for wanting to comfort a girl so badly - Mizuno was his closest female friend before Megumi but even so, he couldn't imagine initiating a hug to the dense, kind girl he just couldn't find romantic feelings for.

On the other hand, the idol right before him looked so damaged and fragile. He remembered the very promise that she had made to him on the plane earlier. Even he couldn't deny how his heart had skipped a beat when she made the promise to him. This was the kind, amazing girl who had never failed to give her best in protecting and healing him during and after all their battles. She held him with that much regard and he loved her for it.

Kiyomaro could only awkwardly scratch his beet red cheek, while Megumi was still smiling weakly, and in slight confusion at him. The genius sighed, before slowly opening up his arms with a warm smile.

"Come on, Megumi-san. Let it all out."

Megumi let out a light hiccup in surprise, and at the very same instant, felt tears of guilt and relief rising up to her eyes. Even she could sense that Kiyomaro understood her guilt, but even so was extremely thankful for her. The idol let out a wail, before she took a step forward and plummeted into his embrace. She could no longer stop her tears from pouring out, as all her insecurities and guilt overflowed from her system.

Kiyomaro smiled down at the idol, wrapping one arm around her waist and placing the other over her head. The idol smelled much nicer than he ever imagined - he couldn't help but notice. The genius looked up, only to notice how everyone around them were smirking and giving sly smiles at the couple. Kiyomaro turned many shades of red, shooting them warning looks and earning slight chuckles from them.

The genius turned back down to look at the girl in his arms and smiled to himself. It didn't matter what anyone else thought either way, it didn't matter what kinds of trials would come their way either.

No one could stop him from protecting her.

I honestly tried my best to not make Kiyomaro OOC. HAHAHA I found myself thinking so hard about how a guy would secretly harboured feelings, yet didn't consciously know about them, would react trying to see their own crush broken, and ended up here HAHAHA. Hope it was an alright fluff!

References:

1. Suzume's keychain: Chapter 187, Kiyomaro's Aura

2. Momon's CPR: Chapter 216, Fist of Gathered Emotions

3. Bonus: Megumi's reaction to dead Kiyomaro: Chapter 215, An Undelivered Voice