Title: "One Moment"

Author: Trinity-chan

Fandom: GouGou Sentai Boukenger

Pairing: Sakura Nishihori & Eiji Takaoka

Rating: PG-13 (for mentions of violence)

Author's Notes: Task 31. Sakura goes insane on behalf of Eiji after Gai nearly kills him. Wonderful stuff. YOU HAVE TO SEE IT!

Summary: Sometimes all it takes to light a spark of attraction is one moment.

The memory replayed itself in her mind several times and would never quite leave. She remembered watching, horrified as Eiji reached out for her, before collapsing. She could have sworn she saw his lips mouth her name as he fell. She remembered running to him, screaming "Takaoka-san!"

She could hear Gai laughing. She remembered taking his bloody hand. She'd thought he was dying. She remembered the anger, the rage boiling up inside of her. She remembered going after the Quester as though Eiji had just been murdered.

And once she'd calmed down, she still felt things. Things she thought she'd only feel for Satoru. She suddenly realized something. But it wasn't possible.

Was she…falling for Eiji?

She pondered this as she ate her parfait, her mind wandering back to thoughts of him. She wondered if Eiji ever took the time to enjoy sweets…or life.

I should bring Eiji here one day. She thought. Maybe he'll enjoy himself.

She paused and placed her hand over her heart. It was pounding so hard she felt as though it was burst through her ribcage. When did she stop thinking of him as "Takaoka-san" and start thinking of him as "Eiji"? And where were these funny feelings coming from?

Eiji laid in bed in the hospital, quietly munching on a stalk of celery, lost in thought. He'd been told about Sakura kicking Gai and Rei's asses like it was judgment day and he'd wished he could have seen it for himself. It sounded awesome.

One certainly does get more than one bargained for with her. Eiji thought. She can take care of herself, she's tough…and she's beautiful. He stopped mid-chew when the thought about Sakura's beauty. He wasn't used thinking of women that way. Heck, he wasn't used to thinking of women, period. But, he had to start. If he was to continue the Takaoka line, he would need a wife to bear him an heir. He'd never thought about such things before, but his near death on the battlefield made him rethink everything. He dimly remembered hearing Gai crow about how he ended the Takaoka line and how angry that made him. And who will I pass my knowledge of Ashu onto if I don't have a child? He thought, his heart speeding up.

Sakura, based on the way he'd heard she'd owned the Questers and how she'd handled herself before seemed like the most likely candidate. But could he really ask her to give up her life to be with him, to live as an Ashu watcher? That was too much to ask of anyone, much less a beautiful, confident, cool-headed young woman like Sakura.

Takaoka, get a hold of yourself! Sakura doesn't like you that way. She'll never see you that way. He thought, his hope failing and his heart dropping into his chest. Just face it. You're doomed to live and die alone. Sure, you have friends now, but what if you become an Ashu again? They'll all leave you, Sakura included. Eiji gave his celery another nibble. So much for an heir…and a wife.

Eiji shook his head. It really was too much to hope for. Sakura came along with him because she didn't trust him to go alone, but she'd offered him painkillers and water and showed that she'd cared for him. He could see the ice around her melt and he began to feel something. But, she liked Satoru, even if she wouldn't admit it. She'd never see him in the same way…would she?

The Dazzling Adventurer paused and looked into the mirror opposite his bed. "Will Sakura ever see me as anything other than a monster?" he asked himself, almost convinced that he could see his Ashu side instead of his own.

The walk back to the museum seemed longer than usual for Sakura, who seemed lost in thought. She had long since admitted to herself that her crush on Satoru was never going to go anywhere and that Satoru's true love was adventuring. There was no room for a woman in his life. So, Sakura had squashed her feelings, like she usually did and retreated behind her frigid mask, where she felt safest.

And then today came and she could feel those feelings being dragged up from the depths, only they weren't directed at Satoru anymore. Now, she was feeling things for Eiji. She thought about how lonely he must have been, wandering the earth without any friends or family. It sort of sounded like her life. She'd been lonely, too, even with her parents and within the special forces. She'd never felt that close to anyone, never close enough for her to express what was in her heart. But she had to admit that she'd felt closer to Eiji in those few hours than she had with ANY of the other Boukengers.

She'd felt close enough to open up her heart, even if it was just a little. She could even forgive him for his behavior to her earlier. She understood him better now and understood that he wasn't used to rules and regulation. Even if she was a bit offended, she had to admit, seeing him upset was kind of hot.

A flush crawled up into her cheeks. She'd never thought of a man like that before. She shook her head.

Get a grip, Sakura! She thought. Eiji's practically a monster! And he's your comrade…and he doesn't like you. The Deep Adventurer shook her head in a hopeless attempt to clear it. But he's not really a monster…I'm sure he has control over his Ashu side now, and surely he must have felt something today.

She could remember her feelings so clearly. Grief, sorrow, rage and affection. She would not have been able to do what she'd done if she had not come to care for Eiji. She remembered them reaching out for each other. He HAD to have felt something.

Without thinking, Sakura broke into a run, hoping that her gut wasn't wrong. She wasn't going to make a fool of herself, she just wasn't!

Eiji sighed and swallowed his pride. He would never know how she felt if he never asked. And the worst that could happen was for her to say that she wasn't interested. Yanking himself up and throwing on his jacket, Eiji hobbled out of the room, intending to find Sakura. Suddenly, he saw a pink SGS jacket-clad body run into the courtyard.

Taking a chance, he forced his body to its limit and ran as much as he could, intending, for the first time in his life, to open up his heart.

They finally caught up with each other right smack in the middle of the museum's main entranceway.

Eiji spotted Sakura at the exact moment she spotted him.

"Eiji!" She cried, forgetting herself.

"Sakura!" he responded, not caring who heard.

Sakura, not caring, not thinking, all swept up in her passion, and didn't even pause to consider what she was about to do. "Eiji, I…I…" Nishihori, this is NO time for hesitation! "I LIKE YOU!" There. She'd said it.

Eiji smiled and limped towards her, refusing to stop until he was right in front of her.

"You're hurt." She remarked.

"It's nothing." He panted. "And, I like you, too."

Sakura smiled for a moment, but it was short lived as Eiji began to fall and she caught him, supporting her with as much of her weight as she could.

Their eyes met and another moment passed between them.

Without thinking or caring who saw them, Sakura leaned her head in and kissed him deeply, throwing her heart into it.

Eiji chuckled against her lips and struggled to run one hand through her hair.

They were like that for what seemed like forever, finally happy to have someone. The someone they'd always dreamed of having.

Sometimes, all it takes to light a spark is a single moment.